[1:25] Heat. Heat.
[10:08] Good evening. It is Tuesday, September
[10:11] 22nd. Welcome to our regular select
[10:14] board meeting. Our first agenda item is
[10:18] to uh have a question to move into
[10:20] executive session. I will go ahead and
[10:22] move that we go into executive session
[10:25] pursuant to Mass General Laws chapter
[10:27] 30A section 21A6
[10:30] purpose six for the purpose of
[10:32] considering the purchase exchange lease
[10:34] or value of real property specifically
[10:36] 26 Pleasant Street and for uh Mass
[10:40] General Law Chapter 38 21A6 purpose 6
[10:43] for the purpose of considering the
[10:45] purchase exchange lease or value of real
[10:47] property specifically the Coolage Corner
[10:50] Theater located at 280 290 Harvard
[10:53] Street. Bernard,
[10:54] >> yes.
[10:55] >> Michael,
[10:55] >> yes.
[10:56] >> Amanda,
[10:57] >> yes.
[10:57] >> Anthony,
[10:58] >> yes.
[10:58] >> And I also vote yes. And once we
[11:02] conclude executive session, we will come
[11:04] back into open session.
[11:08] » Recording stopped.
[13:41] Bang.
[17:21] Heat.
[29:59] Thank
[30:15] you.
[33:10] Hey.
[33:23] Hey.
[37:39] Heat. Heat.
[59:14] Yeah.
[59:17] Heat.
[1:07:23] Heat.
[1:09:26] up
[1:09:56] here.
[1:10:07] Good evening again. We are back from our
[1:10:09] executive session. In executive session,
[1:10:12] we took a vote regarding the lease
[1:10:15] agreement at the Koolage Corner Theater
[1:10:18] and we would like to take that vote
[1:10:20] again now in public session. So I move
[1:10:23] that we execute the modification to the
[1:10:27] Coolage Corner lease agreement.
[1:10:30] >> Bernard,
[1:10:31] >> yes.
[1:10:32] >> Michael,
[1:10:32] >> yes.
[1:10:33] >> Amanda,
[1:10:34] >> yes.
[1:10:35] >> Anthony,
[1:10:35] >> yes.
[1:10:36] >> And I also vote yes. I want to thank the
[1:10:39] uh Koolage Corner Theater for uh working
[1:10:42] with us toward this agreement. and we
[1:10:44] very much look forward to continuing to
[1:10:47] see uh documented the continuing
[1:10:50] community benefits that the Koolage
[1:10:52] Corner Theater provides.
[1:10:56] » I want to thank um as well from town
[1:10:58] council's office John Bukite who has
[1:10:59] been working on this process now for two
[1:11:02] years, three years. Um it's been a long
[1:11:05] time. So um thank you to the Koolage.
[1:11:07] Thank you as always to town council's
[1:11:08] office and John your work here. Um,
[1:11:11] we're very grateful uh have the Koolage
[1:11:13] as a community partner. I don't know if
[1:11:14] you want to say a few words or anything.
[1:11:18] >> That's okay with you.
[1:11:19] >> That's fine. Yes.
[1:11:21] >> Oh, we we have to have you have to come
[1:11:23] to the microphone for our best
[1:11:24] >> come up to the podium.
[1:11:38] Uh my name is Michael Maynard. I am a
[1:11:41] board member at the Koolage Corner
[1:11:42] Theater for many years as board chair as
[1:11:44] we went through the expansion with a
[1:11:47] enormous support and uh encouragement of
[1:11:50] the town. Um, and it's been uh a
[1:11:55] wonderful success for us and I think
[1:11:57] it's also been a wonderful success for
[1:12:00] our patrons. Our best year ever prior to
[1:12:03] COVID was about 250,000 people or almost
[1:12:06] 250,000. Our first fully operational
[1:12:10] year um with the expansion open we uh
[1:12:14] were just shy of 300,000.
[1:12:17] So the it's it's a more userfriendly
[1:12:20] experience for our patrons. We have more
[1:12:23] screens. Uh we've been able to expand
[1:12:25] our programming. And I think perhaps
[1:12:28] from Brookline standpoint, hard dollars
[1:12:31] and cents, but also from a cultural and
[1:12:35] a community standpoint, we started the
[1:12:38] education program and we're at it now
[1:12:41] for just over two years. We have almost
[1:12:44] 3,900 kids in in the program in total
[1:12:47] now. Uh and Brooklyn has almost 900 uh
[1:12:53] kids are participating in the program
[1:12:55] and that has been enormously successful
[1:12:59] uh and I think good for the community
[1:13:01] but it's been it's been great for us
[1:13:04] too. There's been a lot of hunger for
[1:13:06] education over the years but we didn't
[1:13:07] have the space or the screens and now we
[1:13:09] do. So, I just want to thank the um all
[1:13:14] of the departments in town and you folks
[1:13:17] uh for your support and we very much
[1:13:20] appreciate your affirmation
[1:13:22] of of the modification lease agreement.
[1:13:25] So, thank you again. Thank you.
[1:13:31] All right. So, with that we will move to
[1:13:33] our next item which is announcements and
[1:13:36] updates. Do any board members have
[1:13:37] announcements or updates to provide?
[1:13:40] >> Amanda,
[1:13:41] >> I have two if that's okay. Um, the first
[1:13:45] one was uh an announcement that Governor
[1:13:48] Moraley said at the beginning of the
[1:13:50] month that 278 million in state and
[1:13:53] federal financing will support the
[1:13:55] creation of more than 2500 homes in 20
[1:13:58] communities. The Brooklyn Housing
[1:14:00] Authorities 10 Walnut Street was one of
[1:14:02] the 29 projects awarded funded. Um 10
[1:14:06] Walnut Street is the first phase of the
[1:14:08] redevelopment of VHA's Walnut High
[1:14:10] Apartments. The project will demolish 32
[1:14:12] obsolete federal public housing
[1:14:14] apartments that were first constructed
[1:14:16] in 1961 and replace them with 96 units
[1:14:19] of family oriented affordable housing.
[1:14:22] You can read the full statement from the
[1:14:23] BHA, but this is great news for the town
[1:14:25] and our soon to be new neighbors. Um and
[1:14:28] then the second thing that I had to say
[1:14:29] was a followup to my vision zero
[1:14:32] questions from 3C last week. Uh if
[1:14:35] anyone else is curious in the steps that
[1:14:38] the town is taking uh on new municipal
[1:14:41] vehicles that we acquire. Um I was just
[1:14:44] going to read the answers I got to them.
[1:14:46] Um the first is that all replacement
[1:14:48] trucks in our fleet um come equipped
[1:14:51] with speed alert systems which sound an
[1:14:53] incab alarm when the vehicle se exceeds
[1:14:56] a preset threshold. These systems are
[1:14:59] standard on our replacement trucks. We
[1:15:01] do not currently utilize this feature,
[1:15:03] but we do rely on standalone GPS
[1:15:05] monitoring systems which cross reference
[1:15:07] a map speed limit database and alerts
[1:15:09] management to specific instances of
[1:15:11] excessive vehicle speed. Second one is
[1:15:15] on direct vision. The excavator is a
[1:15:17] high vision truck of our class 7 to8
[1:15:20] trucks. Only the trash trucks are
[1:15:22] considered high vision. Other class 78
[1:15:25] trucks are classified as low vision and
[1:15:27] for these we now specify extra convex
[1:15:29] mirrors to improve driver visibility.
[1:15:32] We've also added a lower window on the
[1:15:34] passenger side door to improve sight
[1:15:36] lines to the side of the vehicle. All
[1:15:38] vehicles are additionally equipped with
[1:15:40] standard safety devices including backup
[1:15:42] alarms and backup cameras. And the last
[1:15:45] piece is on lateral protective devices.
[1:15:49] Uh, our current specifications require
[1:15:51] that all vendors quoting on the Town of
[1:15:53] Brooklyn vehicles include lateral
[1:15:56] protective devices in their pricing. In
[1:15:59] addition, we have an ongoing capital
[1:16:01] improvement program to retrofit existing
[1:16:04] vehicles that do not currently have
[1:16:06] lateral protective devices installed.
[1:16:08] Right now, the majority of our fleet
[1:16:10] already meets the best practice
[1:16:11] standards for this installation. So, I
[1:16:14] thought that would be generally interesting to everyone here.
[1:16:17] Yes, thank you for sharing those items.
[1:16:20] Anyone else, Anthony?
[1:16:21] >> Um, I just want to point out that during
[1:16:23] our last town meeting, u we passed
[1:16:25] warrant article 17, under article 17,
[1:16:28] the town voted to amend its general
[1:16:30] bylaws to add a new article, uh, civil
[1:16:32] immigration enforcement activities on
[1:16:34] town property that prohibits the use of
[1:16:37] town facilities for federal civ civil
[1:16:40] immigration enforcement in the absence
[1:16:41] of a valid judicial warrant or court
[1:16:43] order authorizing such use. the attorney
[1:16:46] general uh approved that warrant article
[1:16:48] um earlier this week.
[1:16:52] >> Thank you. Anybody else? Chaz,
[1:16:54] >> couple of small announcements. Um one uh
[1:16:56] ex good news, bad news announcement.
[1:16:58] Good news. Um Brookline Day is this
[1:17:01] Sunday. Um it's 27th. Um we're very
[1:17:04] excited. It's in Koolage Corner. uh as
[1:17:06] it has been the last couple of years.
[1:17:08] Starting at 11:00 a.m. and going to 3M,
[1:17:11] there will be a huge number of um uh
[1:17:14] participants. All your town hall
[1:17:16] departments um our friends from across
[1:17:19] the town and the state and the county
[1:17:22] will be there. Um I will say, however,
[1:17:25] that we also have a potential uh wrinkle
[1:17:27] in this. This is the bad news, which is
[1:17:28] we have a fall nor easter scheduled to
[1:17:31] come through town uh this weekend. We do
[1:17:34] not yet have visibility from the weather
[1:17:37] service on the direct risks to Brooklyn
[1:17:40] day. We always say that Brooklyn day is
[1:17:42] rain or shine, but what we have we did
[1:17:45] not specify that Brooklyn day is gale
[1:17:47] force winds and shine, which is the um
[1:17:50] more dangerous um issue here. We really
[1:17:53] don't want to be in a situation where
[1:17:54] people's safety is in jeopardy outdoors.
[1:17:57] we will need to make a call on whether
[1:17:59] or not to um uh cancel Brookline Day and
[1:18:04] look into how we would reschedule in
[1:18:06] community events. Um but obviously we
[1:18:08] want to be cognizant of the community's
[1:18:12] um you of of the community safety first
[1:18:15] and foremost. So we will update the
[1:18:17] community on whether Brookline Day is
[1:18:18] proceeding on Thursday morning. Um so I
[1:18:22] know folks are always concerned, you
[1:18:23] know, when do you make a call? How when
[1:18:25] do you make a call to close school
[1:18:26] because of weather events? When do you
[1:18:28] make a call to call these things off?
[1:18:29] There are a number of things that go
[1:18:30] into that decision. So, I just want to
[1:18:32] let people know that the the pivot
[1:18:34] point, the the decision point for
[1:18:36] Brookline Day, the next available
[1:18:38] decision point is on Thursday. Although,
[1:18:40] at any point, if there are issues that
[1:18:43] involve the safety of the participants
[1:18:44] or of residents, um we can make that
[1:18:46] call um as as we get closer to the date.
[1:18:49] But more to come on this. Please keep
[1:18:51] Brookland Day on your calendars for now
[1:18:53] and in the event that we do need to move
[1:18:55] it um we will let you know and we'll
[1:18:57] make that announcement. One other uh two
[1:18:59] other small uh updates from the public
[1:19:01] health department that um the
[1:19:02] commissioner asked me to read. Um one is
[1:19:05] flu shot clinics. Um Brookline Public
[1:19:08] Health is offering both flu and
[1:19:09] highdosese flu vaccines at three
[1:19:11] community clinics. Um all residents six
[1:19:14] months and older may be vaccinated. Um,
[1:19:17] adults 65 and older are the ones
[1:19:19] eligible for that highdose vaccine. So,
[1:19:21] the clinics will be held at the Baker
[1:19:22] School on September 24th, Brookline High
[1:19:25] School on October 4th, and the Driscoll
[1:19:27] School on October 7th. We also have a
[1:19:29] program for folks who cannot leave their
[1:19:31] homes uh for the homebound flu program.
[1:19:34] Um, you may visit bricklinemma.gov
[1:19:36] flu clinics again.govlu
[1:19:41] nic
[1:19:43] uh in order to have more information or
[1:19:45] to schedule an appointment. Please get
[1:19:46] your flu shots. Um it's going to be a
[1:19:49] rough flu season and we always want to
[1:19:51] be sure that you're safe. Um last, the
[1:19:54] community health equity survey uh for
[1:19:56] the state is now open uh for Brookline
[1:19:58] residents aed 12 and older. So the
[1:20:00] feedback that is received there helps
[1:20:02] Brooklyn then identify community needs,
[1:20:04] guide programs and services, and inform
[1:20:06] funding decisions for health and equity.
[1:20:08] So it's anonymous, takes it takes some
[1:20:11] time. It takes around 15 to 30 minutes.
[1:20:12] It's available in multiple languages,
[1:20:14] but it is really important. Uh the
[1:20:16] information that we get from this, it's
[1:20:17] a state-run survey, is used to try and
[1:20:20] figure out where our unmet needs are and
[1:20:22] how we can prioritize serving the
[1:20:24] community. So, please fill it out if you
[1:20:26] have the opportunity. Um and to
[1:20:28] participate, you go to mass.gov/halths
[1:20:31] survey, all one word. Thank you very
[1:20:33] much. Thank you.
[1:20:35] Anyone else?
[1:20:39] All right, then we will move to our next
[1:20:40] agenda item, which is public comments.
[1:20:42] Melanie, if you can go over the rules.
[1:20:45] Thank you for joining us for public
[1:20:46] comment. This is an opportunity for us
[1:20:49] to hear your perspective on the issues
[1:20:50] in Brooklyn that matter to you. Each
[1:20:53] person speaking tonight is limited to
[1:20:55] three minutes. You don't need to use the
[1:20:57] entire time, but you may if you like.
[1:20:59] Once 15 minutes has been met, there's an
[1:21:01] opportunity at the conclusion of the
[1:21:03] select board's business for additional
[1:21:04] comments. Members of the public
[1:21:07] sometimes raise questions during public
[1:21:09] comment. We may be able to provide a
[1:21:11] quick answer to a question, but are more
[1:21:12] likely to work with staff to get a more
[1:21:14] thorough answer and respond over email.
[1:21:17] The on-screen timer will flash orange
[1:21:19] when you have 60 seconds remaining and
[1:21:21] red when your time is nearly up. Please
[1:21:23] conclude your remarks at that time. If
[1:21:25] you have more to say, you are welcome to
[1:21:27] send an email to board members
[1:21:28] expressing your thoughts in greater
[1:21:30] detail. Any person wishing to speak must
[1:21:33] begin their comment by identifying
[1:21:34] themselves with their full name, either
[1:21:37] their Brooklyn precinct number or street
[1:21:39] address, and the specific topic on which
[1:21:41] they wish to speak. The board encourages
[1:21:43] but does not require that remote users
[1:21:45] turn their video on when commenting.
[1:21:50] » So, do we have any members who have
[1:21:51] signed up?
[1:21:52] >> Yes, Ann Lusk is first.
[1:21:54] >> All right, go right ahead.
[1:21:59] I see you have handouts for us as
[1:22:00] always. Thank you.
[1:22:37] tell me when. Ready.
[1:22:39] >> Okay.
[1:22:40] >> And lust precinct five. The Brookline
[1:22:42] Building Department Planning Board
[1:22:43] Zoning Board of Appeals did not follow
[1:22:45] or enforce its zoning bylaws concerning
[1:22:47] installation of heat pumps at 16 Hart
[1:22:49] Street. The town administrator and the
[1:22:51] select board members are bosses of the
[1:22:53] individuals in the planning and building
[1:22:54] departments and these departments should
[1:22:56] follow and enforce the zoning bylaws
[1:22:58] that Brookline residents have written to
[1:23:00] ensure quality of life in Brooklyn. Mike
[1:23:03] and Clare Wolf, owners of 16 Hart Street
[1:23:05] did not include drawings of their two
[1:23:06] heat pumps in their all electric house
[1:23:08] additions plans. The building
[1:23:10] department, planning department,
[1:23:11] planning board, and the zoning board of
[1:23:12] appeals did not tell them they needed to
[1:23:14] include drawings of their heat pumps.
[1:23:16] Mike and Claire did have a drawing of a
[1:23:18] storage porch under the upstairs bedroom
[1:23:20] that has the same floor as the
[1:23:22] all-season porch. When Mike and Clare
[1:23:24] presented to the zoning board of
[1:23:25] appeals, I even asked if they would
[1:23:26] install a solid wall in the opening of
[1:23:28] their storage porch beside me. Mike and
[1:23:30] Clare had the opportunity and did not
[1:23:32] reveal that they needed their not yet
[1:23:33] installed heat pumps to breathe. They
[1:23:35] received five special permits for their
[1:23:37] addition. After their addition was
[1:23:39] built, Mike and Clare put a stacked
[1:23:41] two-can heat pump inside their storage
[1:23:43] porch. The sound was extremely loud in
[1:23:45] my front walkway, my back front, my
[1:23:47] front door, and inside my house. Even in
[1:23:49] the winter, I went to the town each week
[1:23:51] and wrote countless emails. Because
[1:23:53] their two stacked fans were less than
[1:23:55] two feet from the property line, the
[1:23:57] town suggested they put their two heat
[1:23:59] pumps in the backyard away from me.
[1:24:00] Instead, Mike and Clare put two separate
[1:24:02] heat pumps back inside their storage
[1:24:04] ports with the two fans facing me. I
[1:24:06] live 5 feet away. Zoning bylaw specified
[1:24:09] that heat pumps are to be in the side or
[1:24:11] rear yard and ground mounted. The new
[1:24:14] bylaw allows heat pumps by right to be
[1:24:16] two feet from the property line and yet
[1:24:17] Mike and Clair's plans were part of the
[1:24:19] permitting process. On August 31st,
[1:24:21] 2026, I sent Polyelco an email.
[1:24:24] Therefore, because you reviewed Mike
[1:24:26] Sinclair's house, their house was not a
[1:24:28] built by right. Dan Bennett said they
[1:24:30] could put their heat pumps in whatever
[1:24:31] location they wanted by right. You
[1:24:33] cannot have a house addition that is not
[1:24:35] built by right and install the heat pump
[1:24:36] within the addition by right. The house
[1:24:38] is either built by right or not built by
[1:24:40] right. Polyelco wrote correct. Zoning
[1:24:43] bylaws also specified that heat pumps
[1:24:45] are to pass a decibel level test. Mike
[1:24:47] and Clare had a decibel level test
[1:24:48] conducted but that I pointed out to the
[1:24:50] planning and building department staff.
[1:24:52] This test was conducted by the
[1:24:53] contractor's young apprentice carpenter
[1:24:56] who presumably took a course from COAC.
[1:24:59] I called CHOHC and learned their course
[1:25:01] was for industry. They did not teach how
[1:25:04] to conduct a decibel test for house. The
[1:25:06] town approved my coninclair certificate
[1:25:08] of occupancy based on a decibel level
[1:25:10] test that did not include proper
[1:25:11] measurements including where the
[1:25:13] measurements were taken. All heat pumps
[1:25:15] also get allowed with age. I contacted a
[1:25:18] lawyer and as a start I would have to
[1:25:20] spend 2,500 to litigate the issue. I
[1:25:23] should not have to spend money or listen
[1:25:25] to their heat pumps when the town did
[1:25:26] not follow zoning bylaws. Mike and
[1:25:28] Claire should be put projected to put
[1:25:30] their two heat pumps near their own
[1:25:31] walkway in front of their windows in
[1:25:33] their back of their back room. Heat
[1:25:35] pumps in this location are farther from
[1:25:36] the abutter of 14 up street than on my
[1:25:39] side if the floor area ratio allows. My
[1:25:42] >> your time is up.
[1:25:43] >> Thank you.
[1:25:46] Right. Who is our next speaker?
[1:25:50] >> Nobody signed up prior.
[1:25:52] >> Anyone else in the room like to be heard
[1:25:54] now?
[1:25:57] Anyone online?
[1:25:59] >> You can use the hand raise feature on
[1:26:00] Zoom if you'd like to be heard.
[1:26:06] » Seeing none, in that case, we will move
[1:26:07] to our next agenda item, which is
[1:26:09] miscellaneous.
[1:26:12] Are there any particular miscellaneous
[1:26:14] items that members would like to discuss
[1:26:17] first? Anthony,
[1:26:18] >> I have 7J and 7K. Two quick questions
[1:26:21] for 7J. The question of approving an
[1:26:24] authorization to hire request for town
[1:26:25] council. Associate Town Council. Is this
[1:26:27] a backfill or the creation of a new
[1:26:29] position?
[1:26:29] >> Uh, it's a back, it's a backfill. Um,
[1:26:31] uh, one of our associate town councils
[1:26:33] is unfortunately departing for a
[1:26:34] position with the state. We wish you the
[1:26:36] best. Uh, but we need to hire a new, uh,
[1:26:37] attorney.
[1:26:38] >> Okay. And then 7K, uh, Porchfest. I'm
[1:26:41] assuming that also might get cancelled
[1:26:43] >> potentially. Yes. Thank you.
[1:26:44] >> Very sad.
[1:26:45] >> And, uh, what would be the timing around
[1:26:49] when a postponement would be announced?
[1:26:50] >> Same time on Thursday.
[1:26:52] >> Okay.
[1:26:54] Amanda,
[1:26:55] >> I have a question about 7B. Um, I can
[1:26:58] ask now or
[1:26:59] >> go ahead 7B.
[1:27:01] >> Um, High Street is on the Vision Zero
[1:27:03] high priority network and so I'm
[1:27:05] wondering if we have any Vision Zero
[1:27:07] improvements planned in the course of
[1:27:10] repaving.
[1:27:12] >> I will follow up with DPW on that. I
[1:27:15] believe the answer is yes, but I will
[1:27:17] double I want to be positive that I have
[1:27:19] the um the exact improvements that are
[1:27:22] being made there. Dan Murphy's online.
[1:27:24] >> Oh, Dan is online. Yes, there we go.
[1:27:26] >> Dan, if you could answer. Thank you.
[1:27:28] >> Yes, I can. Uh, yeah, we high street uh
[1:27:31] the we're basically planning to do 10
[1:27:34] and a half foot lanes and use whatever
[1:27:37] remains for the shoulders divided
[1:27:39] equally on the sides. And there are two
[1:27:41] uh rapid rectangular flashing beacons
[1:27:44] planned as well.
[1:27:46] >> So, they don't currently exist where the
[1:27:49] rapid flashing beacons are being added.
[1:27:52] >> That's right. Okay.
[1:27:54] >> All right. I have Bernard. Go ahead.
[1:27:57] >> Let people know that I made some edits
[1:28:00] to the minutes. Uh first was changing
[1:28:03] long-term strategic direction to
[1:28:05] medium-term. Is that correct?
[1:28:08] >> I always thought that roadmap was
[1:28:09] medium.
[1:28:10] >> Yes, that's correct.
[1:28:11] >> Okay. The other thing is uh I think it's
[1:28:13] important to add um the uh goal of
[1:28:17] increasing the racial and economic
[1:28:18] diversity of Brookline households which
[1:28:21] was goal five in our road map.
[1:28:23] >> Yeah.
[1:28:24] >> And you know I think this summary should
[1:28:25] include that.
[1:28:26] >> Absolutely.
[1:28:28] >> Anyone else?
[1:28:30] >> All right. So why don't we vote 7A
[1:28:32] separately? So I move that we approve
[1:28:34] the meeting minutes from September 15th
[1:28:37] subjects to the revisions provided by
[1:28:39] Michael, Amanda, and Bernard.
[1:28:42] >> Yes.
[1:28:43] >> Michael,
[1:28:43] >> yes.
[1:28:44] >> Amanda,
[1:28:45] >> yes.
[1:28:45] >> Anthony,
[1:28:46] >> yes.
[1:28:46] >> And I also vote yes. And then I move
[1:28:49] that we approve items 7B through 7M in
[1:28:55] omnibus fashion.
[1:28:56] >> Bernard,
[1:28:57] >> yes.
[1:28:57] >> Michael,
[1:28:58] >> yes.
[1:28:58] >> Amanda,
[1:28:59] >> yes.
[1:29:00] >> Anthony,
[1:29:00] >> yes. and I also vote yes. So with that
[1:29:05] we move to boards and commissions
[1:29:08] interviews.
[1:29:13] First we have Brooklyn commission for
[1:29:17] the arts. There are three vacancies
[1:29:20] and we have Jin man by
[1:29:23] >> online.
[1:29:25] >> All right Jin man whenever you are
[1:29:27] ready.
[1:29:30] Hello.
[1:29:31] >> Yes, I'm here.
[1:29:32] >> All right. So, if you'd like to
[1:29:33] introduce yourself, tell us about why
[1:29:37] you decided to apply for Commission for
[1:29:39] the Arts and what it is about your
[1:29:41] experience or interest that makes you
[1:29:43] believe you would be a good fit for this
[1:29:45] commission.
[1:29:47] >> Sure. Yeah. So, my name is Jin Man Bay.
[1:29:49] I'm a designer by trade. I've been in
[1:29:53] the Boston area uh as a resident uh
[1:29:57] since 2008. and I've been a Brooklyn
[1:30:00] resident for I'm on my fifth year as a
[1:30:03] Brooklyn resident. And um yeah, I'm
[1:30:07] looking to a just kind of exercise uh
[1:30:11] being a good citizen and give back to
[1:30:13] the community that I live in. And I sort
[1:30:16] of have a personal hobby interest in the
[1:30:18] sort of beautifification and design of
[1:30:20] cities. I think I I believe that um the quality and the beauty of spaces
[1:30:27] um has a high correlation with you know
[1:30:30] yielding good results for the soul of
[1:30:32] the people and the good of the town. And
[1:30:34] so um yeah I think I am again being a
[1:30:39] designer by trade. So I I started out my
[1:30:41] career in graphic design um and branding
[1:30:45] and moved into sort of user experience
[1:30:47] and product design. And so I I come from
[1:30:49] a wide sort of variety of artistic
[1:30:52] experiences and I'm excited to be become
[1:30:56] um a part of this group.
[1:30:58] >> All right. Thank you. A question I have
[1:31:00] for you. I see in your application that
[1:31:03] you are a fan of architect Theaster
[1:31:07] Gates and I'm wondering if you could
[1:31:09] talk a little bit more about uh what it
[1:31:12] is regarding Gates's uh architecture
[1:31:15] that you would maybe want to bring with
[1:31:18] you to the Commission of Arts.
[1:31:22] Yeah, I I think he so we used to live in
[1:31:24] Chicago uh which is where he lives and
[1:31:28] his whole thing is that he he buys up uh
[1:31:32] abandoned buildings in the south side of
[1:31:34] Chicago and he will redesign and
[1:31:36] renovate them into community spaces. And
[1:31:38] so I think for him it's um he has a
[1:31:41] quote that says that beauty has the
[1:31:43] right to live anywhere. And so it's more
[1:31:45] his philosophy
[1:31:47] uh and his will to use his artistic
[1:31:50] talents um to better the community.
[1:31:53] Um and so I I think it's just the the
[1:31:56] intent with which he designs, which is
[1:31:58] just to make every space better and more
[1:32:01] usable for people. Um not just
[1:32:03] aesthetically, but just for for the will
[1:32:06] and the good of the people. And so, uh,
[1:32:07] I've just always been a fan of his
[1:32:09] philosophy and his approach to design
[1:32:11] and something that I'm hoping to pursue
[1:32:13] hopefully in my career as well.
[1:32:16] >> Right. Anyone else have questions?
[1:32:17] Michael,
[1:32:19] >> uh, thank you very much for your
[1:32:21] application. Uh, I'm interested to know
[1:32:25] uh, just in the cont first of all, one
[1:32:28] question. Have you uh, participated or
[1:32:31] uh, looked uh, sat in on meetings of the
[1:32:34] Brooklyn Commission for the Arts?
[1:32:37] uh to date. No, I have not sat in on an
[1:32:39] actual meeting uh for the for that
[1:32:41] commission.
[1:32:42] >> Thank you. Um and my second question is
[1:32:45] um following up on David's question
[1:32:48] about um and your answer about
[1:32:51] reutilizing different spaces. Um are
[1:32:54] there spaces um that you see within the
[1:32:57] town of Brookline that would be ripe for
[1:33:00] this kind of treatment or
[1:33:02] transformation?
[1:33:04] Um I you know Koolage Corner I think has
[1:33:08] always been so I I look at Koolage
[1:33:10] Corner as a great sort of inspiration
[1:33:12] just because they do a lot of events
[1:33:14] where they block off the streets like
[1:33:15] Brooklyn Day and make it a more walkable
[1:33:19] place. I think uh I'm a big nerd about
[1:33:22] this kind of stuff. So I I read a lot of
[1:33:24] books about why old European cities are
[1:33:27] so beautiful um universally considered
[1:33:30] beautiful and and it's about making them
[1:33:32] more human scaled and walkable um and so
[1:33:37] more opportunities to sort of uh create
[1:33:40] uh the sort of walkable spaces I think
[1:33:43] throughout um and and less sort of car
[1:33:46] centric I think is always better for the
[1:33:48] town and so um that's the sort of thing
[1:33:51] that I would hope to happen more and
[1:33:53] more.
[1:33:54] >> Thank you.
[1:33:56] >> Anyone else?
[1:33:58] All right. Well, thank you very much for
[1:33:59] your interview. We don't typically uh
[1:34:02] vote the same day of an interview. Uh
[1:34:04] but you will hear back from us when we
[1:34:06] do make our selections.
[1:34:08] >> Thank you so much.
[1:34:11] >> All right. Next, we will move to
[1:34:13] interviews of candidates for
[1:34:15] transportation board. And
[1:34:18] >> let me clarify one thing. So there are
[1:34:20] still three more openings for the
[1:34:21] Commission on Arts even after the number
[1:34:23] that we nominated like a month ago.
[1:34:26] >> Yes.
[1:34:27] >> Okay.
[1:34:28] >> How many people are in this commission?
[1:34:30] Give me one second. I'll give you that
[1:34:31] information.
[1:34:33] >> Just wanted to understand the scale of
[1:34:35] what we need to fill.
[1:34:52] 10 members
[1:34:54] >> and there are three vacancies.
[1:34:57] >> All right. So now we will move to
[1:34:59] interviews of transportation board and
[1:35:01] our first candidate to be interviewed is
[1:35:03] Greg Wheeler.
[1:35:13] Good evening.
[1:35:14] >> Good evening. So, as I said to the uh
[1:35:17] candidate for Commission of the Arts, if
[1:35:19] you can tell us a bit about yourself,
[1:35:20] your background, your interests, and
[1:35:23] what makes you feel you would be a good
[1:35:25] fit for transportation board.
[1:35:27] >> Absolutely. Um so, good evening
[1:35:28] everyone. Uh my name is Greg Wheeler. I
[1:35:31] live on Kent Street with my wife
[1:35:32] Charlotte and our two year two two and a
[1:35:34] half yearear-old daughter Ella. Uh I am
[1:35:37] a town meeting member in precinct 3 and
[1:35:39] I want to thank you all for uh giving me
[1:35:40] the opportunity to interview here
[1:35:42] tonight. Um I'm a very firm believer
[1:35:45] that our transportation network can
[1:35:47] empower people to live and move about
[1:35:50] town uh safely, affordably, and
[1:35:52] sustainably. And I think that my
[1:35:55] experience can uh help the
[1:35:56] transportation board in the town
[1:35:58] continue advancing in these um these
[1:36:00] really critical objectives. Excuse me.
[1:36:03] Uh my most uh relevant professional
[1:36:05] experience comes from my time working at
[1:36:07] the MBTA where I was a senior director
[1:36:10] on the green line transformation team.
[1:36:12] Uh you might be familiar with their work
[1:36:13] as a number of my former colleagues uh
[1:36:16] are leading the accessibility
[1:36:18] improvements on the C branch this summer
[1:36:19] and into the fall. Um I joined the TE at
[1:36:23] a particularly difficult time for the
[1:36:25] organization. It was uh at the time when
[1:36:28] the agency was just beginning to
[1:36:29] identify and try to respond to decades
[1:36:32] worth of deferred maintenance while also
[1:36:35] trying to advance um really critical
[1:36:38] longer term capital projects. And I
[1:36:40] think that parallels to some degree with
[1:36:41] what Brookline is looking to do with its
[1:36:43] transportation network. Um my time at
[1:36:46] the T gave me a great deal of experience
[1:36:47] orchestrating large construction
[1:36:49] projects under what I would call
[1:36:52] moderate degree of public scrutiny. Um,
[1:36:55] and um, I think that would, you know,
[1:36:57] help serve the transportation board and
[1:36:59] I would love to contribute. Um, in what
[1:37:01] little spare time I do have, I produce
[1:37:04] um, datadriven stories on housing and
[1:37:06] transportation. Uh, my most recent story
[1:37:09] was on a deep dive in the Vision Zero
[1:37:12] efforts in Somerville, Cambridge, and
[1:37:13] Boston. Um, because I was interested to
[1:37:15] see what Brooklyn could learn from those
[1:37:17] communities. Um, I have a couple of
[1:37:19] charts from that report. I don't want to
[1:37:21] give you any extra reading any more than
[1:37:22] you already have. Um, but if you're
[1:37:24] interested, I have a couple handouts for
[1:37:25] you. Um, happy to take questions. Thank
[1:37:28] you.
[1:37:28] >> All right. Who would like to go first?
[1:37:30] Amanda.
[1:37:32] >> Yeah. Um,
[1:37:34] can you outline the number of ways that
[1:37:36] you, uh, typically transverse the town,
[1:37:39] either through it or around it on a
[1:37:41] regular basis, and how might that
[1:37:43] influence the perspectives you might
[1:37:44] bring to the T-board?
[1:37:46] >> No, that's a good question. I I think
[1:37:47] um, having a broad perspective of the
[1:37:50] different modes of transportation is
[1:37:51] really critical. Um, I would say I use
[1:37:54] as many modes as I as I can. I My family
[1:37:57] own a car, so we do periodically drive.
[1:37:59] Um, I have a cargo bike and I ride with
[1:38:01] my two-year-old daughter to daycare and
[1:38:03] to the grocery store. Um, I walk and run
[1:38:06] around town. Um, I've tried to get to
[1:38:08] every corner of the town by foot or
[1:38:10] bike. Um, because I think um, being out
[1:38:13] in the open and in the town gives you a
[1:38:15] different perspective as well. Um, and
[1:38:17] as a parent of a toddler, taking our
[1:38:19] stroller uh on our sidewalks has been an
[1:38:22] illuminating experience for me as well.
[1:38:24] Um, obviously I take the tea. Um, having
[1:38:27] worked for them as well. So, I think um
[1:38:30] I have a a pretty broad perspective of
[1:38:32] the different modes and and needs for different users around town.
[1:38:36] >> Thank you,
[1:38:37] >> Bernard. So, uh, at the Executive Office
[1:38:40] of Health and uh, human services. Yeah.
[1:38:42] uh you worked on um uh providing
[1:38:45] protective services to people with
[1:38:47] disabilities. Uh how is has that infor
[1:38:50] how it let me see what's the question
[1:38:52] how has that informed your uh your
[1:38:55] understanding of some of the needs uh
[1:38:57] with respect to transportation systems
[1:38:59] here in Brooklyn or elsewhere and what
[1:39:02] suggestions do you you have? No, I I
[1:39:05] think um you know, I've worked um in
[1:39:08] some capacity in my my current role at
[1:39:09] the executive office um around
[1:39:12] protective services for for people with
[1:39:14] disabilities um which doesn't tie
[1:39:17] necessarily directly into the
[1:39:18] transportation needs of of that
[1:39:19] community. But I think my the biggest
[1:39:21] factor I take away is that the needs of people with disabilities are very
[1:39:24] broad and and varied. Um and there's not
[1:39:28] a you know um there's a lot of different
[1:39:32] needs. So I don't think that there's um
[1:39:34] I think our transportation network needs
[1:39:36] to take into account if it's a mobility
[1:39:38] need and and the different mechanisms
[1:39:39] that we have to help accommodate um both
[1:39:42] at the town level or with the TE's
[1:39:44] paratransit service um for vision
[1:39:46] impairment disabilities. There's
[1:39:48] different types of disabilities that
[1:39:49] have different types of um of
[1:39:51] transportation needs. So I think that's
[1:39:53] just a perspective I've I've gotten a
[1:39:55] greater appreciation for in my current
[1:39:56] work.
[1:39:59] You mention in your application that you
[1:40:02] are a certified public accountant, that
[1:40:04] you maintain your license, and I'm
[1:40:05] curious whether there's anything you
[1:40:07] bring from your background as an
[1:40:09] accountant,
[1:40:10] uh whether that would inform at all your
[1:40:13] role on transportation board.
[1:40:14] >> Yeah, I don't I don't typically lead
[1:40:16] with that, my uh my accounting
[1:40:18] background, but um no, absolutely. I
[1:40:20] think the you know, we talk a lot about
[1:40:22] infrastructure, we talk a lot about
[1:40:23] projects. It's coming back to the the
[1:40:26] budgets um is is obviously a huge
[1:40:28] factor. Um I live in spreadsheets. I um
[1:40:33] love digging into details. Um and you
[1:40:37] know I have experience with with company
[1:40:39] financial statements um financial
[1:40:42] information at the state level. Not as
[1:40:44] familiar with municipal finance, but
[1:40:46] that's that's obviously something I'm
[1:40:48] excited to dig into. So um definitely.
[1:40:51] >> All right. Anyone else? Michael. Sure.
[1:40:55] I mean, as a as I know you're you're
[1:40:58] aware because I've seen your
[1:41:00] participation in in various in various
[1:41:03] ways uh around uh considering our
[1:41:06] transportation infrastructure. Um
[1:41:10] our our our our public way system and
[1:41:14] you know thinking of it as an entire
[1:41:16] system you know has lots of needs
[1:41:17] pushing and pulling on it from all
[1:41:19] directions um in all the modes that you
[1:41:22] talk about as well as you know the needs
[1:41:24] of our business community for people to
[1:41:27] be able to access their businesses
[1:41:28] people uh who are coming to and from
[1:41:31] home schools other town services etc. Um
[1:41:34] I'm wondering in the course of your
[1:41:37] digging in are there partic any
[1:41:40] particular insights or learnings that
[1:41:42] you think uh could apply in your work as
[1:41:45] a transportation board at the
[1:41:47] transportation board um that would sort
[1:41:50] of broadly
[1:41:52] uh influence your consideration of the
[1:41:54] public way?
[1:41:55] >> Yeah, that's a good question. And I
[1:41:57] think um you know one thing I would come
[1:42:00] back to is the town has I think pretty
[1:42:03] clear sets of plans and objectives
[1:42:05] around transportation and
[1:42:08] sustainability. Um and I that would for
[1:42:10] one be something that I would want to
[1:42:11] anchor. Um the decision-m making process
[1:42:15] around in terms of our climate action
[1:42:17] resiliency plan, our vision zero plan
[1:42:19] which we hear a lot about. Um and I
[1:42:22] think the the three priorities I listed
[1:42:24] in my introduction um and particularly
[1:42:27] safety would be kind of an anchoring
[1:42:29] point. Um I think a lot of our
[1:42:31] objectives in in the transportation
[1:42:34] needs are complimentary. Um we do often
[1:42:37] hear about whether they do come into
[1:42:38] conflict um or there's conflicting
[1:42:41] needs. um definitely would want to hear
[1:42:43] that through. But but airing on the side
[1:42:45] of safety and and learning too from what
[1:42:47] Somerville and Cambridge have have have
[1:42:49] paved the way on as well um is another
[1:42:52] thing that I would I would certainly
[1:42:53] want to to learn from.
[1:42:55] >> Thank you.
[1:42:56] >> Just one other question I have. Uh how
[1:42:58] many transportation board meetings have
[1:43:00] you attended?
[1:43:02] I have attended at least every meeting
[1:43:05] going back at least to the spring uh of
[1:43:07] the transportation board um as well as a
[1:43:09] number of advisory committee meetings um
[1:43:13] because I'm I have a lot to learn and I would love to if I'm appointed to this
[1:43:17] position hit the ground running as much
[1:43:19] as possible. So um I've done as much as
[1:43:21] I can to to catch up on past work that
[1:43:23] the transportations board has done,
[1:43:25] their current priorities and where
[1:43:26] they're where they're headed.
[1:43:28] >> All right. Thank you.
[1:43:31] Uh so uh as I explained to the prior
[1:43:34] applicant, we don't typically vote on
[1:43:37] the day of an interview, but uh we will
[1:43:39] get back to you when we're ready to make
[1:43:41] a decision.
[1:43:42] >> Thank you.
[1:43:44] >> Our next candidate is Brian Hawklutener.
[1:43:53] » Hi there.
[1:43:54] >> Hello. Uh so as I've said to the other
[1:43:56] candidates, uh please tell us a bit
[1:43:58] about your background, what it is about
[1:44:00] your experience and your interests that
[1:44:02] you feel would make you a good fit for
[1:44:04] the transportation board.
[1:44:06] >> Sure. Um my name is Brian Hook Lightner.
[1:44:08] I live at um on Elm Street, Precinct 6.
[1:44:12] Um I'm a former town meeting member from
[1:44:15] Precinct 6. I've served on a few
[1:44:17] different boards in the town, including
[1:44:20] um predecessor to the diversity, equity,
[1:44:25] um community relations commission. Um I
[1:44:28] served on a commission that wrote zoning
[1:44:30] for the Emerald
[1:44:32] Isle or sort of Brooklyn Avenue area. Um
[1:44:35] a committee that advised the select
[1:44:37] board on eminent domain for 22 Tapen
[1:44:40] Street. Um I'm a real estate lawyer by
[1:44:43] trade. So that's my my expert that I
[1:44:46] think I bring. I I represent clients on
[1:44:49] real estate development projects
[1:44:51] primarily in greater Boston, um Boston,
[1:44:54] Cambridge, Somerville,
[1:44:56] um River, um Newton. Um I don't do a lot
[1:45:00] of work in Brooklyn. My clients are not
[1:45:03] sort of Brooklyn developers, so I don't
[1:45:04] think that would be an issue. Um but I
[1:45:07] do have a lot of experience in
[1:45:09] representing clients before
[1:45:12] um board of appeals um type decisions
[1:45:15] and a lot of transportation issues that
[1:45:17] come up. So an example of a project that
[1:45:19] I'm working on right now is the Suffach
[1:45:21] Downs project in East Boston and River.
[1:45:24] It's the largest project that's been
[1:45:26] permitted in greater Boston, 16 million
[1:45:28] square feet. Um, it's going to be
[1:45:31] developed over 20 years. And there's all
[1:45:33] kinds of transportation issues that come
[1:45:35] up. Another project I'm working on is a
[1:45:37] project in East Boston, 160 MLEN, which
[1:45:40] is a um multimodal sort of industrial
[1:45:45] facility with a lot of transportation
[1:45:47] issues. So, I I do come across a lot of
[1:45:49] transportation stuff in my in my um my
[1:45:53] work and I think I could bring that to
[1:45:56] the board.
[1:45:58] >> All right. Any questions from members?
[1:46:00] Amanda,
[1:46:01] >> I'll give you the same question I just
[1:46:03] gave, Gregory. Um, can you outline the
[1:46:06] ways in which you transverse around and
[1:46:09] through the town on a regular basis and
[1:46:11] how might that influence the
[1:46:12] perspectives you bring to the T-board?
[1:46:14] >> Sure. So, I I am um I I I'm very
[1:46:18] balanced, I guess. I take the tea to
[1:46:21] work. I also bike to work sometimes and
[1:46:24] um carpool to work. So, I've I work
[1:46:28] downtown and so I've used all of those
[1:46:30] methods to get downtown. Um, I walk
[1:46:33] around Brookline a ton with my dog. Um,
[1:46:37] so I I sort of traverse the streets that
[1:46:40] way. Um, I just we just bought a new
[1:46:43] car, which was our first plugin. So, I
[1:46:46] just have kind of gone from, you know,
[1:46:48] just a gas powered car to now we have a
[1:46:51] gas powered car and a plugin. So, um,
[1:46:53] but I I I um am sort of an avid
[1:46:57] pedestrian, I guess, is sort of I I
[1:46:59] think what I think of the most. It
[1:47:00] really is what drew me to Brooklyn. Um,
[1:47:03] living in Brooklyn Village and being
[1:47:05] able to walk around is something that I
[1:47:07] think is really important and that I've
[1:47:09] seen on the transportation board when
[1:47:11] I've observed their meetings. Really
[1:47:14] balancing those things I think is is
[1:47:16] important. thinking about the needs of
[1:47:20] drivers, parking, pedestrians,
[1:47:23] bicyclists, and really focusing on
[1:47:25] safety, but also really thinking about
[1:47:27] all the ways those things come together.
[1:47:29] And I I've been very impressed with the
[1:47:31] transportation board and the way that
[1:47:33] the members have brought really
[1:47:35] thoughtful solutions to that and I think
[1:47:39] have done a pretty successful job for
[1:47:41] the most part in balancing those
[1:47:43] different needs.
[1:47:46] >> All right. Yeah. Um you mentioned in
[1:47:48] your materials that you think that your
[1:47:50] real estate background will
[1:47:53] uh will be very helpful on the transport
[1:47:55] transportation board. Um as a real
[1:47:59] estate lawyer representing large real
[1:48:01] estate developments. Tell me how that
[1:48:05] background would would play on the
[1:48:07] transportation board. I can think of a
[1:48:09] number of ways but tell me what you
[1:48:11] think.
[1:48:11] >> Yeah. So, I think it's given me some
[1:48:13] great exposure to what other cities and
[1:48:16] towns are doing and just being able to
[1:48:18] appreciate some of the innovations that
[1:48:21] are happening in Cambridge and
[1:48:23] Somerville, you know, Newton. A lot of
[1:48:25] these projects are really trying to find
[1:48:28] ways to get people out of their cars and
[1:48:31] um and find ways to,
[1:48:35] you know, sort of reduce single
[1:48:37] occupancy vehicle stuff. That's that's a
[1:48:39] big focus that our clients or my clients
[1:48:43] are sort of dealing with on a regular
[1:48:45] basis. Um, you know, trying to figure
[1:48:48] out how to build in a relatively dense
[1:48:51] area in a way that's not going to create
[1:48:55] more traffic and more, you know, sort of
[1:48:58] conflicts, I guess. So, I think it's been helpful to see that. Um, I do
[1:49:04] think that Brooklyn
[1:49:06] is has some room to grow in in in that
[1:49:10] regard. I don't think we're sort of
[1:49:11] caught up to where some of these other
[1:49:14] cities and towns around us have been
[1:49:16] sort of like been able to sort of
[1:49:18] progress in terms of um moving the
[1:49:21] needle. But I think, you know, we're getting there. We're starting in
[1:49:24] that direction and we're making
[1:49:25] progress.
[1:49:28] Michael.
[1:49:29] >> Um,
[1:49:31] so, uh, you started to answer the
[1:49:33] question that I was going to ask you,
[1:49:35] which I asked Greg before about, um, you
[1:49:39] how you think about, uh,
[1:49:42] the all balancing all the broad uses of
[1:49:44] the public way. Uh, you know, and you
[1:49:46] tal you enumerated several of them and
[1:49:48] you talked about the balance between them all. Um, I wonder if you
[1:49:53] can drill down to that a little bit, you
[1:49:56] know, in terms of
[1:49:59] uh in terms of what balance looks like
[1:50:01] to you or um how you would approach
[1:50:06] questions uh on the public way um with
[1:50:10] regard to the balance that you think is
[1:50:12] needed.
[1:50:14] Yeah, I think the example that I think
[1:50:16] of is um the Washington Street project
[1:50:19] as as there was a lot of discussion
[1:50:21] about,
[1:50:22] >> you know, it's not every block on
[1:50:24] Washington Street where you have these
[1:50:25] issues, but when you get to the village
[1:50:27] when where when where there's really a
[1:50:29] crunch and the idea was how do we
[1:50:33] preserve some parking for the businesses
[1:50:36] in and around Brookline Village? um
[1:50:38] particularly sort of think of the block
[1:50:40] from where we are right now to
[1:50:43] um
[1:50:45] where where kind of Washington Street
[1:50:47] and Harvard Street intersect and that's
[1:50:49] where I felt like it was really crunched
[1:50:51] and there was a a a meeting of the
[1:50:53] transportation board where they were
[1:50:55] looking at right how do we fit a bike
[1:50:57] lane in this space preserve parking as
[1:51:01] many spaces as we can for for businesses
[1:51:03] to allow some parking in this area while
[1:51:07] also maximizing pedestrian safety. And I
[1:51:11] felt like it was one of those situations
[1:51:14] where nobody was really thrilled with
[1:51:18] the results. There wasn't one group that
[1:51:19] was like we won, but I felt like the
[1:51:22] balance, they found the right balance on
[1:51:24] that um in that conversation. And um I
[1:51:28] think that's just a going to be the kind
[1:51:30] of challenge that I look forward to
[1:51:32] being part of on the transportation
[1:51:33] board, helping to find that kind of
[1:51:35] middle ground that works for different
[1:51:38] users and kind of you know the Goldilock
[1:51:41] solution. I I think think of it as
[1:51:43] >> Thank you. A question I have uh how
[1:51:46] would the uh climate action and
[1:51:48] resiliency plan and vision zero help
[1:51:51] inform your thinking on uh various
[1:51:54] proposals that are coming before
[1:51:56] transportation board?
[1:51:59] >> Well, I think vision zero I just think
[1:52:01] of that as you know sort of the focus on
[1:52:04] safety and really prioritizing
[1:52:07] um safety. And I guess I I don't have a
[1:52:11] ton of background on I haven't sort of
[1:52:13] dug into the actual
[1:52:16] um climate resiliency plan for
[1:52:18] Brookline, but my understanding would be
[1:52:20] that you know the vision zero is
[1:52:22] certainly about safety and I think
[1:52:24] that's got to be the number one
[1:52:25] priority.
[1:52:27] >> Okay,
[1:52:29] any other questions?
[1:52:31] >> All right. All right. Well, thank you
[1:52:32] very much for the interview and as I
[1:52:34] told the others, we'll get back to you
[1:52:35] when uh it's the day for making a
[1:52:38] decision.
[1:52:38] >> Thank you.
[1:52:42] » All right. With that, we will now vote
[1:52:46] on some reappoints.
[1:52:48] Uh I move that we reappoint Len Holy for
[1:52:52] a three-year term to transportation
[1:52:54] board.
[1:52:56] >> Yes.
[1:52:56] >> Bernard Michael.
[1:52:57] >> Yes.
[1:52:58] >> Amanda,
[1:52:58] >> yes. And I also vote yes. I believe
[1:53:02] Anthony does as well. It was going to
[1:53:05] tell me.
[1:53:06] Yes. Let's add Anthony as well.
[1:53:12] All right. Now we will move to our next
[1:53:15] item which is the cable ascertainment
[1:53:18] hearing. public hearing on RCN license
[1:53:22] renewal for the purpose of allowing the
[1:53:23] public an opportunity to comment on town
[1:53:26] and public cable related needs in RCN's
[1:53:30] performance. So, I'm going to go ahead
[1:53:32] and open a public hearing. This is a
[1:53:34] public hearing uh as part of the license
[1:53:37] renewal process. Brookline's RCN cable
[1:53:40] license expires on April 27th, 2028.
[1:53:44] Federal and state law require holding a
[1:53:46] hearing to allow the public an
[1:53:48] opportunity to comment on town and
[1:53:50] public cable related needs and RCN's
[1:53:53] performance. Notice of this hearing was
[1:53:55] posted twice in the Boston Herald as
[1:53:57] required and on the town's website.
[1:53:59] Copies of the legal advertisements are
[1:54:02] entered into the hearing record. We will
[1:54:04] provide any interested members of the
[1:54:06] public and other interested persons with
[1:54:08] an opportunity to submit input about
[1:54:10] what cable related needs are important
[1:54:12] to Brookline and about how RCN has
[1:54:15] performed under its existing license.
[1:54:17] Before proceeding to public comments, I
[1:54:19] would like to thank Brookline's
[1:54:20] community television access provider,
[1:54:22] Brookline Interactive Group, and RCN for
[1:54:25] their participation and assistance in
[1:54:27] the ongoing license renewal proceedings.
[1:54:30] In this hearing, the board will hear
[1:54:31] comments on all RCN cable related
[1:54:34] matters to include customer service,
[1:54:36] license administration, and important
[1:54:39] local studio needs, community
[1:54:40] programming, PEG access, and Comcast
[1:54:44] support for Brookline's local channels.
[1:54:46] Please try and keep comments limited to
[1:54:48] 3 minutes. If members of the public or
[1:54:50] other interested parties wish to provide
[1:54:52] comments following this hearing, they
[1:54:54] can send their comments to the town of
[1:54:55] Brooklyn care of Charles Young,
[1:54:58] assistant town administrator. Before
[1:55:00] proceeding to public comments, I also
[1:55:02] want to welcome RCN's representative,
[1:55:04] David von Morates, and ask David to make
[1:55:07] some introductory comments on behalf of
[1:55:10] Comcast.
[1:55:13] >> RCN, excuse me.
[1:55:15] And it looks like David is not here
[1:55:17] tonight or wasn't able to make it. So,
[1:55:19] thank you for recognizing him um chair,
[1:55:22] but uh but there will be no comments
[1:55:24] from RCM tonight.
[1:55:27] >> All right. I will note our um our
[1:55:29] council um firm um cable access matters
[1:55:32] uh Bill August is online if there are
[1:55:34] questions on the technical details or
[1:55:37] the um legal uh requirements involved in
[1:55:40] cable license.
[1:55:45] I guess now we'll go to public comment
[1:55:47] if there is any.
[1:55:49] >> We have two people signed up. We have
[1:55:50] Jessica Smiser and Kathy Seedman.
[1:55:53] Jessica's here.
[1:55:55] >> All right. Go ahead, Jessica.
[1:56:00] » Hi everyone. Thank you for the
[1:56:02] opportunity to speak tonight regarding
[1:56:03] the renewal of the RCN franchise
[1:56:05] agreement. My name is Jessica Smiser.
[1:56:07] I'm executive director of Brookline
[1:56:09] Interactive Group aka BIG. For those who
[1:56:11] don't know, BIG is the independent
[1:56:13] nonprofit community media center for
[1:56:15] Brooklyn. A member organization and a
[1:56:18] 501c3 nonprofit, BIG offers extensive
[1:56:21] multimedia training and access to
[1:56:22] highquality equipment. We provide
[1:56:24] discounted professional media services
[1:56:26] to local nonprofit organizations,
[1:56:28] education partners, and Brooklyn
[1:56:30] businesses. BIG also produces local
[1:56:32] government coverage, including select
[1:56:34] boards, school committee meetings, and
[1:56:36] the annual town meetings, and airs this
[1:56:38] coverage on our cable channels and
[1:56:39] online. We also have a community channel
[1:56:42] where local residents can produce
[1:56:43] community service, educational and
[1:56:45] entertainment programming. Our
[1:56:46] programming is funded through grants,
[1:56:49] donations, membership fees, fee for
[1:56:51] service contracts, and importantly for
[1:56:53] this hearing, cable franchise fee
[1:56:55] passroughs. In 1985, Big was
[1:56:58] incorporated as a nonprofit called
[1:57:00] Brookline Community Cable Trust. During
[1:57:02] this period, as the advent of cable
[1:57:03] television began, the federal government
[1:57:06] mandated through the cable
[1:57:07] communications act of 1984, that cable
[1:57:10] companies must have franchise agreements
[1:57:12] with municipalities in order to use the
[1:57:14] public right of way to run cable.
[1:57:16] Section 622 of the act states that
[1:57:18] municipalities are entitled to 5% of
[1:57:20] gross revenues derived from the
[1:57:22] operation of the cable system aka the
[1:57:24] cable subscription fee for the provision
[1:57:26] of community cable services such as
[1:57:29] public educational and government access
[1:57:31] TV channels and media education. This
[1:57:34] act also provides for an annual capital
[1:57:36] investment in the cable operation of the
[1:57:37] town community media center. The town of
[1:57:39] Brooklyn has for many years passed
[1:57:42] through just 2% of that 5% to support
[1:57:44] bigs operations. Because the act dates
[1:57:46] back to 1984, it did not include revenue
[1:57:49] from streaming services or internet
[1:57:51] service only cable TV subscriptions.
[1:57:54] Because of this, gross revenues and sub
[1:57:56] subsequently the pass through have been
[1:57:58] in decline. Cord cutting is a term used
[1:58:01] by cable companies, but it's a misnomer
[1:58:03] because it's actually the same cord that
[1:58:05] brings internet and streaming services
[1:58:06] into homes, and that cord still uses the
[1:58:08] public right of way.
[1:58:10] RCN has a much smaller share of cable
[1:58:13] subscribers in Brooklyn. However, they
[1:58:14] still support two cable channels in
[1:58:16] Brooklyn local programming. These
[1:58:18] channels run seven days a week, 24 hours
[1:58:20] a day, bringing Brookline residents
[1:58:21] local information and community created
[1:58:23] programming. They are very responsive
[1:58:25] partners in those channels and have a
[1:58:27] significant enough market in Brooklyn
[1:58:29] that many of our members and viewers are
[1:58:30] RCN customers. As with Comcast, they pay
[1:58:34] a quarterly franchise fee based on a
[1:58:36] snapshot of cable subscriptions. As an
[1:58:38] example, Big's latest payment from RCN
[1:58:41] was $9,26.87,
[1:58:44] which covers the second quarter of 2026.
[1:58:46] This fee has been getting smaller due to
[1:58:48] the decline in cable subscriptions. To
[1:58:50] illustrate this, the payment in August
[1:58:52] 2025 was $10,6768.
[1:58:56] This represents a decrease of over 15%.
[1:58:59] As BIG continues to work towards a more
[1:59:01] diverse revenue mix, we value the
[1:59:03] existence of RCN in the Brooklyn
[1:59:04] community, not just because they're good
[1:59:06] technical stewards. They're very
[1:59:08] vigilant at keeping our cable channels
[1:59:10] up and running, but because at this
[1:59:12] stage for us, every penny counts. We
[1:59:14] fear the loss of RCN would mean a loss
[1:59:17] of all those cable customers as folks
[1:59:19] would choose to forgo cable rather than
[1:59:21] go to Comcast. We also know what a
[1:59:23] monopoly can create a very different
[1:59:25] dynamic and in this case we feel a
[1:59:27] little competition is healthy for
[1:59:29] everyone. Thank you.
[1:59:33] >> Thank you. And our next speaker
[1:59:35] >> we have online Kathy Sman.
[1:59:38] >> All right. Go ahead whenever you're
[1:59:39] ready.
[1:59:45] One second to promote her.
[2:00:00] » Hi, thank you for taking my comments.
[2:00:03] Um,
[2:00:04] my name is Kathy Seidman. I'm a town
[2:00:06] meeting member in precinct 2. I serve on
[2:00:08] the Brooklyn Commission for the Arts and
[2:00:10] a board member of Brooklyn for Everyone.
[2:00:13] I'm also an RCN customer, but tonight I
[2:00:15] speak only for myself. I want to be sure
[2:00:19] everyone in Brooklyn recognizes the
[2:00:21] incredible value BIG provides our
[2:00:23] community. BIG supports teaching
[2:00:25] valuable broadcast and journalism skills
[2:00:27] to our high school students. BIG
[2:00:29] archives all the recordings of town
[2:00:31] boards and commissions that many of us
[2:00:33] used to find out what happened in one
[2:00:36] committee when we attended another. BIG
[2:00:38] is available to record town events and
[2:00:41] ceremonies. There are live broadcasting
[2:00:44] this meeting as we speak and they make
[2:00:47] town meeting accessible by providing a
[2:00:49] live broadcast as well as the technical
[2:00:51] support for a hybrid town meeting
[2:00:53] format. Besides all of that, they
[2:00:56] provide those services at a cost far
[2:00:58] below commercial production rates. But
[2:01:01] most importantly, without big,
[2:01:03] Brookline's complicated and fairly
[2:01:04] opaque governance structure would be
[2:01:07] much harder for those who work full-time
[2:01:09] or have small children or simply can't
[2:01:11] attend all the various boards and
[2:01:13] commission meetings we have every week.
[2:01:16] To get a sense of how much value BIG
[2:01:18] provides Brookline's town meeting
[2:01:19] specifically, I suggest you watch the
[2:01:22] video I put in my submitted comments.
[2:01:24] It's under four minutes. It's a video
[2:01:26] created by big interns about all the
[2:01:29] effort required to produce town meeting.
[2:01:32] I urge you to do whatever it takes to be
[2:01:34] to make sure BIG has continued funding
[2:01:37] to do the work we expect it to perform.
[2:01:40] Thank you.
[2:01:43] >> Thank you. Would anyone in the room like
[2:01:46] to be heard for the cable ascertainment
[2:01:48] hearing?
[2:01:51] Seeing none, anyone online?
[2:01:53] >> Jonathan Golden has his hand raised.
[2:01:55] >> All right, go right ahead, Jonathan.
[2:02:07] » Great. Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank
[2:02:09] you for the opportunity to speak at this
[2:02:10] hearing. Jonathan Golden, town meeting
[2:02:12] member, precinct 17. I largely come
[2:02:15] online to echo what Jessica and Katha
[2:02:17] have just shared. Big I see is
[2:02:20] indispensable to our community and to
[2:02:22] our democracy, the way which it brings
[2:02:24] transparency and accessibility to our
[2:02:26] form of government. I the privilege to
[2:02:28] be a board member of BIG in the past and
[2:02:31] know well all the financial challenges
[2:02:33] that Jessica described. I'm glad to hear
[2:02:35] that she mentioned examples of
[2:02:37] partnership with RCN. It's good that is happening as well. And it's that
[2:02:41] spirit of cooperation is why I feel
[2:02:42] compelled to speak to see how can we
[2:02:45] work together to to help big meet the
[2:02:48] structural challenges that have been
[2:02:49] ongoing now for many years given the
[2:02:51] dynamics described about the cable
[2:02:53] industry. There must be ways that we can
[2:02:55] work together to help and support uh big
[2:02:59] so they can continue to support our
[2:03:01] community with the wonderful broadcast
[2:03:02] and community work that it does. So I'll
[2:03:05] leave your remarks there. Thank you for
[2:03:06] your consideration and your time.
[2:03:09] Thank you. Anyone else?
[2:03:14] » No one.
[2:03:15] >> Seeing none, I will close the public
[2:03:18] hearing.
[2:03:20] >> What will be our next steps on this?
[2:03:22] >> Charlie, you want to talk a little bit
[2:03:23] about the next steps here?
[2:03:26] >> Absolutely. So, thank you to the board
[2:03:28] for holding this public hearing. Thank
[2:03:30] you to our speakers who came out to talk
[2:03:32] about the town's cable needs. Um, we are
[2:03:35] starting our renewal process for our RCN
[2:03:39] cable license or rather for RCN's cable
[2:03:42] license, which expires in April 2028.
[2:03:44] So, we're a little ahead of the game.
[2:03:46] Um, and we're doing this with we're
[2:03:48] starting with the ascertainment hearing
[2:03:50] because it's legally required, but also
[2:03:51] because it helps inform those
[2:03:53] negotiations. Um, and so town staff will
[2:03:57] be looking to meet with RCN, with our representative, David von Mortz, who
[2:04:01] couldn't be here tonight. We're going to
[2:04:02] provide the recording of this hearing
[2:04:04] and tell them uh all the great comments
[2:04:06] we heard about Brookline Interactive and
[2:04:08] how important it is that the license
[2:04:09] continue to support them. Um and at some
[2:04:12] point we'll be back uh for another
[2:04:15] hearing and uh to look at hopefully a uh
[2:04:19] a license uh a renewal license uh for
[2:04:22] the board to consider. That's the that
[2:04:23] is the end goal.
[2:04:26] >> All right. Thank you. So with that we
[2:04:28] >> Thank you. So with that, we will now
[2:04:30] move to our next agenda item, warrant
[2:04:32] articles, public hearings. Uh we are not
[2:04:36] going to be addressing article 7
[2:04:38] tonight. We will pick that up at a
[2:04:40] subsequent select board meeting. So that
[2:04:43] will bring us to article 8, prohibit
[2:04:46] public meetings on election day.
[2:04:47] Bernard, you have a question.
[2:04:48] >> Yeah, I understand that also article 17
[2:04:52] will not be taken up.
[2:04:54] >> That's correct. Article 17 and 18 will
[2:04:56] not be taken up today either. uh for
[2:04:59] various reasons including that the
[2:05:00] petitioners are not available.
[2:05:04] >> Go ahead, Janice.
[2:05:08] » Thank you very much um to the select
[2:05:12] board for holding this public hearing. I
[2:05:14] am Janice Khan, town member from
[2:05:16] precinct 15 and a member of the advisory
[2:05:19] committee. I'm also a former president
[2:05:21] of the League of Women Voters of
[2:05:22] Brooklyn.
[2:05:24] Warrant article 8 very simply codifies
[2:05:26] in our general bylaws that boards,
[2:05:29] commissions, and committees subject to
[2:05:31] the public the open meeting law are
[2:05:33] prohibited from holding meetings on
[2:05:35] federal, state, and local election days.
[2:05:38] There are two exceptions, one for
[2:05:40] emergencies and a second for bodies that
[2:05:43] need to meet um for the administration
[2:05:46] of elections.
[2:05:48] So why this article and why now? Four
[2:05:51] weeks ago, Ben Kaufman, Brooklyn's
[2:05:54] elected town clerk, came before this
[2:05:56] board during the public comment period
[2:05:58] to speak on behalf of the voters of
[2:06:00] Brooklyn to object to the select board's
[2:06:03] decision to hold their regular public
[2:06:05] meeting on September 1st, the day of the
[2:06:08] Massachusetts primary election and
[2:06:10] during hours when the polls were still
[2:06:12] open. The select board after some
[2:06:14] consideration and additional push back
[2:06:16] from members of the community were able
[2:06:19] to move their meeting eliminating the
[2:06:21] conflict. So much gratitude for that.
[2:06:24] But it raised a concern that in the five
[2:06:26] decades that I have called Brookline my
[2:06:29] home, it's something I never even
[2:06:32] considered was an issue. We all continue
[2:06:35] to watch with increasing concern norms
[2:06:38] being broken at the federal level,
[2:06:41] particularly those threatening our
[2:06:42] national elections. In this moment, it
[2:06:46] is with some urgency that I feel we need
[2:06:49] to pass legislation to codify
[2:06:52] Brookline's norm of not holding public
[2:06:54] meetings on election days and to affirm
[2:06:57] Brookline's commitment to support the
[2:06:59] rights of voters and others who wish to
[2:07:01] engage in the electoral process. So I
[2:07:03] thank you for hearing this article.
[2:07:07] >> All right. So let us let's open the
[2:07:10] public hearing for article 8. Would any
[2:07:14] members of the public like to speak on
[2:07:16] warrant article 8.
[2:07:18] Again if you're online you can use the
[2:07:20] hand raise feature.
[2:07:27] » All right seeing none we will close the
[2:07:29] public hearing on warrant article 8.
[2:07:31] Now, how about discussion amongst
[2:07:32] ourselves here? Any select board members
[2:07:34] have thoughts?
[2:07:36] Bernard?
[2:07:37] >> Um,
[2:07:39] I I I would urge voting no action on
[2:07:41] this. I
[2:07:43] no one actually was inconvenienced.
[2:07:46] The few people who attend our meeting um
[2:07:50] for unlikely inconvenience. Um it was a
[2:07:55] period between 5:30 or actually 6:30
[2:07:58] since we had a executive session and 8
[2:08:00] talk when there was an overlap of of the
[2:08:04] voting and um our meeting.
[2:08:08] I mean, I I'm a little concerned about
[2:08:10] some of the language that, you know,
[2:08:13] we're being associated or or compared to
[2:08:15] the breaking of norms at the federal
[2:08:18] level. I mean, that's just not what's
[2:08:20] going on here. Um, so I'm I'm just
[2:08:23] uncomfortable with the with the sort of
[2:08:25] tone of of of this warrant article uh
[2:08:28] given that u the the actual injury was
[2:08:32] very minor if if at all.
[2:08:37] Michael.
[2:08:37] >> Um I would act
[2:08:41] I'm a little bit torn um because on the
[2:08:44] one hand I actually um agree with the
[2:08:48] petitioner in some cases that the
[2:08:49] codification of norms actually helps our
[2:08:52] governance move forward. Um and I'm I I
[2:08:57] would hesitate to decide a priority
[2:09:01] which norms should be codified and which
[2:09:03] ones shouldn't um as they get
[2:09:05] identified. Um I think it is it is a
[2:09:08] reasonable question to ask as to whether
[2:09:10] or not they should be they should be
[2:09:13] codified through legislation or policy
[2:09:16] or or um practice. Um
[2:09:22] that said, um I'm also curious um
[2:09:26] whether or not uh the petitioner has
[2:09:30] identified uh is this she said that um
[2:09:34] this has not been a concern over 50
[2:09:37] years. Um I'm wondering has this ever
[2:09:40] been a concern is she aware of in other
[2:09:43] Massachusetts uh municipalities? Um, is
[2:09:47] this a one is this a one-off response to
[2:09:51] a particular
[2:09:52] uh scheduling event that occurred
[2:09:55] roughly four weeks ago? Um, or is there any sort of broader context in
[2:10:01] which this is this is substantial?
[2:10:07] » I'd like to respond. So, um, so I would
[2:10:11] say that, um, with many years of
[2:10:13] experience writing and voting on bylaws,
[2:10:17] general and zoning bylaws, it's my
[2:10:19] experience that we do this in relation
[2:10:22] to something that has happened. You
[2:10:24] know, we are not preient, right? There's
[2:10:26] an issue that arises that we maybe never
[2:10:29] thought of. We create bylaws, general
[2:10:32] bylaws, and we create zoning bylaws in
[2:10:34] order to make our our government, I
[2:10:38] think, more sensitive and more um
[2:10:41] responsive to our local culture, um
[2:10:46] things that are important to Brookline.
[2:10:48] And I would say that um this is not
[2:10:51] really a condemnation of this board and
[2:10:54] this decision. It's really that it it
[2:10:57] raised an issue that I hadn't thought
[2:10:59] about that maybe it's a good idea for us
[2:11:02] as a very forwardthinking community to
[2:11:04] take this action and um whether other
[2:11:07] communities do it that is related to
[2:11:10] their own priorities, their own thoughts
[2:11:13] about their their communities. But I
[2:11:16] think for Brooklyn, this is one where we
[2:11:18] have an enormous amount of of public
[2:11:21] participation in our government, whether
[2:11:23] it's volunteering for boards or um or
[2:11:26] running for office. I mean, this is a
[2:11:29] very active community. And I think that passing this legislation would just
[2:11:34] honor the community that we have. And um
[2:11:38] so I this is not meant to be a personal
[2:11:40] attack. It's just the way our laws
[2:11:43] emerge in Brooklyn. It tends to be
[2:11:45] something happens and then we have a
[2:11:47] response and we take action.
[2:11:52] » Maybe something just to add to that is
[2:11:54] that the secretary of state has said
[2:11:55] that there are some some bodies that are
[2:11:58] not allowed to meet on election day by
[2:12:00] law. Um and those are um uh public
[2:12:03] hearings for held under zoning acts. Um
[2:12:06] so boards of appeal, zoning board of
[2:12:08] appeals, planning boards, etc.
[2:12:10] >> Those may not be held on election day.
[2:12:12] And then there's a state there's some
[2:12:14] state bodies that can't meet on election
[2:12:15] day, too. Um, the Secretary of State's
[2:12:18] office recommends that communities not
[2:12:20] hold meetings on election day. Um, but
[2:12:22] there's no state order. And I know some
[2:12:24] communities have codified that into
[2:12:27] official law and some communities have
[2:12:28] not. But in general, it is good practice
[2:12:31] in the absence of, you know, a pressing
[2:12:33] need. And in this case, I know you, you
[2:12:36] know, this is this is something that
[2:12:37] just comes up. But you know I think in
[2:12:38] this instance
[2:12:39] >> there was this question of what norms do we
[2:12:44] >> when there's a conflict between norms
[2:12:45] what do we follow um and so I think it's
[2:12:47] a good opportunity to have this
[2:12:49] conversation because one of the norms
[2:12:50] that you follow is the select board
[2:12:52] meets on Tuesdays Tuesday nights it's a
[2:12:54] presumption of regularity people come to
[2:12:56] expect it when we moved this meeting to
[2:12:59] Monday Bernard pointed out you don't
[2:13:01] often have a vast audience you know
[2:13:04] concurrently a lot of people watch the
[2:13:05] meetings more people watch the meetings
[2:13:06] after the act. Um but it's not always
[2:13:09] easy to see, you know, who's watching,
[2:13:10] you know, concurrently on um big
[2:13:13] streaming, for example, either on cable
[2:13:14] or over um YouTube. Um so the total
[2:13:18] number of people we think watch these
[2:13:20] meetings can vary, but we do know that
[2:13:22] it dipped pretty significantly when we
[2:13:24] held that meeting on Monday. Um and uh
[2:13:27] again, not to cast dispersions, but none
[2:13:29] of the people that I saw raise
[2:13:30] complaints about it came to that
[2:13:32] meeting. Um, so it wasn't a matter of,
[2:13:35] you know, it it it it was I I understand
[2:13:38] what the norm is and I I want to be
[2:13:40] clear that I value that norm. I don't
[2:13:42] think we should ordinarily be meeting on
[2:13:44] election days. But I also wonder whether
[2:13:48] it is necessary to prohibit the meeting
[2:13:50] on election days. And I think one of the
[2:13:51] things that the petition does, the
[2:13:53] Warren article does that is wise is it
[2:13:55] exempts, you know, true, you know,
[2:13:57] emergencies under the open meeting uh
[2:13:59] law, which I think is smart. Um and
[2:14:01] maybe that's maybe that's sufficient for
[2:14:03] your purposes in terms of balancing. Um
[2:14:05] but yeah, I think that question is how
[2:14:08] do you how do you deal with those
[2:14:09] competing norms which is there is an
[2:14:10] expectation among the people who come to
[2:14:12] this board regularly that it be held on
[2:14:14] Tuesday nights. Um and when it deviates
[2:14:17] from that there is a dip in attendance
[2:14:19] versus the concern that you want to give
[2:14:22] people the opportunity to vote. So it's
[2:14:24] just a balance it's a balancing
[2:14:25] question. Amanda,
[2:14:27] >> I just wanted to ask uh and I don't know
[2:14:30] if anyone knows this, but uh I know this
[2:14:33] is the the first meeting that the
[2:14:36] petitioner is aware of, but that doesn't
[2:14:38] necessarily mean that there haven't been
[2:14:40] election day meetings in our past. Um
[2:14:43] >> I'm aware of at least two that have
[2:14:44] happened on election days prior to that
[2:14:46] scheduled meeting. um of both cases. I
[2:14:49] believe it was on um um I'll get I'll
[2:14:53] get the exact dates, but yes, we have we went to the archives and we found at
[2:14:57] least two in recent memory um that were
[2:14:59] held um
[2:15:02] uh on an election day. And I know that
[2:15:04] other boards and committees do tend to
[2:15:06] hold their meetings on, you know, not
[2:15:09] all of them, but boards and committees
[2:15:10] that meet during the day on Tuesdays
[2:15:12] will sometimes still hold their meetings
[2:15:14] on an election day. So, it's not just
[2:15:15] the select board that uses that. There
[2:15:17] are other boards of committees that do
[2:15:19] so. It's just not as not as many. Um, in
[2:15:21] general, I think people try and honor
[2:15:23] that request that we try not to meet on
[2:15:25] election day when we can avoid it.
[2:15:28] >> Was uh was there a reason for those uh
[2:15:31] select board meetings to be held on that
[2:15:34] day, for example, emergency or
[2:15:36] >> there was no emergency there was no
[2:15:37] formal declaration of the need for an
[2:15:39] emergency meeting. We can pull the
[2:15:40] agendas and figure out why. Um, but in
[2:15:43] those both of those instances, they
[2:15:45] passed without incident. No one no one
[2:15:47] raised I looked at the minutes, no one
[2:15:48] raised an objection.
[2:15:51] >> Well, I agree with uh Bernard. I'm with
[2:15:54] respect to a little bit of skepticism as
[2:15:57] to how many people are genuinely
[2:15:59] impacted in terms of an hour and a half
[2:16:02] overlap. Nevertheless, uh it can
[2:16:05] inconvenience some people. And
[2:16:06] specifically, there was an email I
[2:16:08] received from town meeting member Cat
[2:16:10] Anderson about pole workers. And pole
[2:16:14] workers more often than not tend to be
[2:16:16] very engaged in local government. Uh I
[2:16:20] know four personally who are definitely
[2:16:22] very engaged. And for those four at
[2:16:24] least, and there probably more, if
[2:16:26] they're assigned to work the polls from
[2:16:29] open to close, then they are forced to
[2:16:32] make a decision. do we participate in
[2:16:35] the uh municipal government meeting or
[2:16:38] do we work the polls? And so for that
[2:16:40] for for that it's a small group but it
[2:16:42] is a group. We're inconveniencing them
[2:16:44] at a minimum and beyond that we know
[2:16:48] years in advance in some instances
[2:16:50] depending on the election what election
[2:16:51] day will be and so it shouldn't be too
[2:16:54] difficult for us to work around that
[2:16:56] when we are scheduling our meetings and
[2:16:59] when other bodies are scheduling their
[2:17:01] meetings. So from a policy perspective,
[2:17:05] uh I think that this Warren article is
[2:17:07] reasonable. There's plenty of time to
[2:17:10] plan around it and that way we're not
[2:17:12] inconveniencing anyone. One slight worry
[2:17:15] I have is I would like to see election
[2:17:18] day defined a little more clearly. I'm
[2:17:21] pretty sure I know what you mean. You're
[2:17:22] referring to the main day that people go
[2:17:24] and vote, but in this era of early
[2:17:26] voting, there are actually multiple
[2:17:28] election days now. And that could become
[2:17:30] a little bit problematic because we
[2:17:32] don't know if in the future there will
[2:17:33] actually be eight election days per
[2:17:36] cycle and that could be trickier if we
[2:17:38] can't meet on any election day including
[2:17:40] early voting days. So if that could be
[2:17:43] clarified I think that would be helpful.
[2:17:45] >> Okay. Thank you very much. Um
[2:17:48] >> Bernard um yeah we we can plan our
[2:17:53] meetings far in advance to avoid any
[2:17:56] problem because At
[2:17:58] least since I've been when I was chair,
[2:18:01] we started meeting not every uh Tuesday
[2:18:04] but uh uh three or or mostly three
[2:18:08] Tuesdays per month. So we can plan
[2:18:10] ahead. My my concern is just the idea
[2:18:13] that you know as was said this is voter
[2:18:17] suppression that you know it's violating
[2:18:19] some norms like at the federal level. I just hope we we're not,
[2:18:26] you know, using this as sort of a cudel
[2:18:28] against the select board in some way.
[2:18:30] But yes, we can plan around it around
[2:18:33] it. And I don't think there's a need for
[2:18:35] a warrant article to do that. Just, you
[2:18:37] know, an appreciation by the select
[2:18:38] board that uh we plan around election
[2:18:42] days as we see them coming up.
[2:18:46] That's my opinion. Amanda,
[2:18:48] >> I just wanted to add one point to the
[2:18:51] competing disenfranchisement argument I
[2:18:54] guess that Chaz was making. Um, and that
[2:18:57] if we do move our our meetings, I
[2:18:59] actually ran into the problem when we
[2:19:02] had our Monday meeting before election
[2:19:03] day that a poll worker reached out while
[2:19:05] I was in the select board meeting and I
[2:19:06] didn't get to it until too late to
[2:19:08] address his concern where he was trying
[2:19:10] to figure out how he was going to access
[2:19:12] the polls in the morning. um and he had
[2:19:16] no concept that we would be meeting on a
[2:19:19] Monday night. Um and so I do think there
[2:19:22] is always an unintended
[2:19:27] consequence. Um and I am a little bit
[2:19:30] concerned. I I'm kind of splitting the
[2:19:33] case. I I do think that as a general
[2:19:35] policy, we should not meet on election
[2:19:37] days. Um and our our boards and
[2:19:39] commissions, except for emergencies,
[2:19:41] probably should not either.
[2:19:44] Um, but I I do think it's a much more
[2:19:48] complicated answer and I kind of wish
[2:19:51] that this current Warren article maybe
[2:19:54] turned down a few of the whereas clauses
[2:19:57] um to make it more clear that this was
[2:19:59] trying to codify a a norm to make
[2:20:03] clearer expectations and less of a
[2:20:06] fingerpointing exercise for lack of a
[2:20:08] better term.
[2:20:12] Um, so the may I respond? So the law
[2:20:16] itself is really simple and doesn't have
[2:20:18] any of the nuances that that people have
[2:20:20] been raising concerns about. That's in
[2:20:22] the explanation. The law is really quite simple that no meeting of
[2:20:27] any board, committee or commission in
[2:20:29] the town subject to the open meeting law
[2:20:30] shall be held on any day in which a
[2:20:32] state or municipal election or primary
[2:20:35] is held. And I I take the chair's
[2:20:38] clarification point. um
[2:20:41] in in mine and then it se the other
[2:20:44] section just has the exemptions. So
[2:20:46] there's no there's no um nuanced
[2:20:51] about that. You know, there's no um you
[2:20:54] know, I think it's the formal election
[2:20:56] day when people actually go to the polls
[2:20:58] is what this is is talking about. And I
[2:21:01] think that's pretty clear,
[2:21:04] >> Bernard. And that includes special
[2:21:06] elections. for example, if we were to
[2:21:07] have a override election in July.
[2:21:12] >> True.
[2:21:13] >> Okay.
[2:21:14] >> We want people to participate freely in the process. Yeah. So, as I was
[2:21:19] suggesting before, I would be a bit more
[2:21:21] comfortable if this clearly spelled out
[2:21:24] that we're not referring to early voting
[2:21:26] because early voting
[2:21:28] can be over multiple days and that
[2:21:30] really could create a logistical crunch
[2:21:33] for any board if suddenly early voting
[2:21:36] counts as an election day. So, I'd
[2:21:38] rather not have any ambiguity.
[2:21:40] >> I will I will have a conversation with
[2:21:42] the town clerk and and work on
[2:21:46] clarifying that. Thank you. Thank you.
[2:21:50] All right. So, uh with that we will move
[2:21:53] to our next agenda item
[2:21:56] which is the memorandum of agreement
[2:21:58] with win companies.
[2:22:15] Good evening. I'm Amy Uaz. I'm the
[2:22:19] housing and community planning director
[2:22:20] in the department of planning and
[2:22:22] community development.
[2:22:24] And I'm here because at the last select
[2:22:27] board meeting on September 15th, um the
[2:22:30] board allocated up to $4 million for the
[2:22:34] project at 99 Kent Street to
[2:22:36] substantially re rehabilitate that
[2:22:38] property and extend the affordability
[2:22:40] restrictions for 99 years. The condition
[2:22:43] of that approval was approval of the MOA
[2:22:46] between wind companies and the town. Um
[2:22:49] that MOA outlines the town's support for
[2:22:54] um the extension of an air rights lease
[2:22:56] with the MBTA. It outlines the support
[2:22:59] for um the use of excess parking at the
[2:23:03] existing parking garage located between
[2:23:05] 99 Kent Street and uh Village at
[2:23:07] Brookline. And it also outlines what
[2:23:10] will happen um when the current
[2:23:13] affordability restrictions at villages
[2:23:15] at Brooklyn expire in 2024 and how wind
[2:23:18] has wind companies has agreed to
[2:23:21] actually it's a village at Brooklyn the
[2:23:24] um has agreed to um extend that those
[2:23:28] reapply for the affordability uh
[2:23:30] restrictions available through a housing
[2:23:34] um a HAP contract for the projectbased
[2:23:36] vouchers that are there and what would
[2:23:39] happen if that funding weren't
[2:23:41] available, how the town would
[2:23:43] participate kind of in a 50/50 split
[2:23:46] with extending those affordability
[2:23:47] restrictions. I have Michael Alperin
[2:23:50] with me. He's been our consultant
[2:23:52] working on this. He's with Terara Living
[2:23:54] Partners and he's been invaluable to
[2:23:56] this process. And I al also on Zoom is
[2:24:00] um Lauren Camperryi who is the senior um
[2:24:04] project director for the project at 99
[2:24:07] Kent Street. So there's no need we we're
[2:24:10] seeking approval tonight, but there's no
[2:24:12] need for the MOA to be signed tonight.
[2:24:15] Um but approval of the MOA will allow us
[2:24:18] to through a letter probably from um the
[2:24:20] town administrator to fully support Wind
[2:24:23] company's application for funding for
[2:24:26] from the executive office of housing
[2:24:28] livable communities.
[2:24:31] So we're happy to answer any questions
[2:24:33] you have. Um
[2:24:35] >> Michael is our expert. Michael,
[2:24:38] >> I'm just wondering, we did discuss this
[2:24:42] last week um and sort of went through it
[2:24:44] extensively and don't necessarily feel
[2:24:46] the need to to rehash that. I'm just
[2:24:48] wondering between then and now, has
[2:24:50] there been any either substantive change
[2:24:52] to the MOA um or other consideration
[2:24:56] that we should be made aware of
[2:24:58] following that conversation?
[2:25:00] Um, I think there there was a minor
[2:25:02] change. Um, nothing nothing significant,
[2:25:05] >> but we did want to reach agreement
[2:25:06] between their legal counsel and ours
[2:25:08] before we brought it back to you.
[2:25:10] >> But I I thought that there were some not
[2:25:14] major changes, but some changes that
[2:25:16] needed to be made in order to make the
[2:25:18] MOA uh complete. And you're saying that
[2:25:22] those are just minor? I believe those
[2:25:24] happened right before the last select
[2:25:27] board meeting, but I'd have to go back
[2:25:28] and look at the there have been many um
[2:25:31] iterations of this. You may be correct.
[2:25:33] I'd have to look at the timing because
[2:25:35] there were some significant changes
[2:25:37] right around the time of the select
[2:25:39] board's last meeting.
[2:25:40] >> Um but then after those you reviewed it
[2:25:42] that at that time and we came to
[2:25:44] resolution on those and then there were
[2:25:45] just some a couple minor changes after
[2:25:47] that point.
[2:25:50] >> Sure. Go right ahead.
[2:25:52] >> Thank you. Thank you.
[2:25:53] >> Welcome back.
[2:25:54] >> Thank you, Bernard. Sorry. Sorry. Um
[2:25:56] again, last week for trying to do this
[2:25:58] via Amtrak train for during the day
[2:26:00] meeting time. Um so just to reiterate
[2:26:03] what Amy just
[2:26:04] >> I'm sorry. Could you I
[2:26:06] >> I'm Michael Alrren. I am a consultant in
[2:26:08] this capacity for Terara Living Partners
[2:26:11] engaged by the town of Brooklyn. Um and
[2:26:15] used to be the executive director of the
[2:26:16] housing authority in Brooklyn and town
[2:26:18] meeting member and many boards
[2:26:20] throughout town. Um so um
[2:26:25] when and the town agreed on all the
[2:26:28] terms that town council proposed and
[2:26:31] that Amy and I proposed as well. There
[2:26:33] was a minor change since what was uh
[2:26:36] agreed to the day of your meeting last
[2:26:39] week, which was that the metropolitan
[2:26:42] fair area market rent was changed to
[2:26:44] small area fair market rent, which is
[2:26:46] how the Brooklyn Housing Authority
[2:26:48] currently calculates its voucher payment
[2:26:50] standard. So that's the minor change and
[2:26:53] I think you are absolutely right,
[2:26:54] Bernard. There were substantive changes
[2:26:56] that were asked for on behalf of the
[2:26:58] town and town council. All of those were
[2:27:00] accepted by Wyn and the owner.
[2:27:05] Amanda,
[2:27:05] >> I'm wondering if um just for the
[2:27:08] purposes of folks who might not turn
[2:27:10] have tuned in to our last meeting, if
[2:27:12] someone could give a highle summary of
[2:27:14] what the MOA protections are for the
[2:27:17] village.
[2:27:23] » Um and War and Lauren can jump into if
[2:27:25] there's any clarification the owner
[2:27:27] wants to provide or developer. Um, any
[2:27:30] tenants in good standing who are income
[2:27:33] qualified at the village, who live in a
[2:27:35] unit that is expiring use, which means
[2:27:39] is subject to the 40T notice the town
[2:27:42] received, um, will be held to rent
[2:27:45] increases no more than 10% over the
[2:27:48] coming years. Um, uh, or CPI plus three.
[2:27:52] Um, and that is consistent with 40T and
[2:27:56] above and beyond what's required by the
[2:27:57] state statute. Um, most of the tenants
[2:28:00] who are in good standing and income
[2:28:02] qualified today also have a voucher. So,
[2:28:05] they will be protected from any rent
[2:28:07] increases that impact the tenants
[2:28:09] themselves. There are two households
[2:28:12] we've identified that are subject to
[2:28:14] that agreement and in good standing and
[2:28:16] qualified uh on an income basis. There's
[2:28:20] then further protections if households
[2:28:22] do income qualify that have not income
[2:28:26] qualify to date and are in good
[2:28:27] standing. Um and then there are
[2:28:30] provisions about
[2:28:33] the HAP units in 2044 that protect um 39
[2:28:37] of the tenants that live at the property
[2:28:39] today to have affordable rents at or
[2:28:42] below 50% of area median income. the
[2:28:45] owner will reapply for that HAP contract
[2:28:47] to the housing authority on
[2:28:49] substantially similar terms um no less
[2:28:52] than 80 87% of the same economics um
[2:28:56] that are in place today um on a
[2:28:59] timeadjusted basis based on HUD's
[2:29:01] published um rent schedules that's very
[2:29:03] technical and sorry for saying that in a
[2:29:05] bunch of jargon but basically tenants
[2:29:07] will be insured if that HAP contract is
[2:29:10] renewed their rent does not rise the
[2:29:12] owner continues to receive revenues And
[2:29:14] then as Amy described, if the owner is
[2:29:17] unable to receive a HAP contract through
[2:29:19] the Brooklyn Housing Authority on
[2:29:21] similar economic terms, there's an
[2:29:24] agreement between the owner and the town
[2:29:26] to attempt to preserve affordability on
[2:29:28] an ongoing basis in a 5050 share of the
[2:29:32] costs of doing so relative to what the
[2:29:34] rents are in other market units at the
[2:29:37] property at that time.
[2:29:39] >> Thank you.
[2:29:40] >> No problem. Anyone else?
[2:29:44] All right. With Oh, go ahead.
[2:29:48] >> Somebody else.
[2:29:48] >> Oh, that's fine. I was just gonna agree
[2:29:50] with agree with Michael and say that
[2:29:52] we're also, you know, committing to to
[2:29:55] renovating um units that have reached
[2:29:59] their end of their useful life as part
[2:30:00] of the agreement as well.
[2:30:02] >> All right. Thank you. So with that, I
[2:30:05] will move approval of a memorandum of
[2:30:07] agreement with wind companies related to
[2:30:09] existing incomequalified tenants at 77
[2:30:12] Village Way, support for Wind Company's
[2:30:14] efforts in extending their air rights
[2:30:16] lease with the MBTA for 99 years, and
[2:30:18] support for the ability to rent excess
[2:30:20] parking spaces in the existing parking
[2:30:23] garage. Bernard,
[2:30:24] >> yes.
[2:30:24] >> Michael,
[2:30:25] >> yes.
[2:30:26] >> Amanda,
[2:30:26] >> yes.
[2:30:27] >> And I also vote yes.
[2:30:30] >> All right. Thank you very much.
[2:30:32] >> Thank you.
[2:30:33] Amy. Thank you, Michael.
[2:30:34] Thank you to Lauren and the wind team,
[2:30:36] uh, and to the whole planning team and,
[2:30:38] um, town council's office. Um, we look
[2:30:40] forward to sending that letter.
[2:30:43] >> Thank you very much. Appreciate it.
[2:30:44] Everyone, have a good night.
[2:30:46] >> So, with that, we will move to our next
[2:30:48] agenda item, which is update and
[2:30:50] possible vote on revised boards and
[2:30:53] committees handbook.
[2:30:54] >> Yes. Thank you, and I apologize to the
[2:30:56] board. We were working on this up until
[2:30:57] the 11th hour, so I don't think it's
[2:30:59] wise to take a vote until you've had the
[2:31:00] opportunity to review the most recent
[2:31:02] red line. Um but I did want to flag that
[2:31:04] it is in the packet. Um it and the most
[2:31:07] substantive change based on the
[2:31:09] conversation that we had last week was
[2:31:11] to the um code of conduct section. Um
[2:31:14] that section as Michael suggested now
[2:31:15] doesn't have that box around it. So it's
[2:31:17] it makes clear that it applies solely to
[2:31:19] boards and committees appointed by the
[2:31:20] select board. Um and it changes the
[2:31:22] format. Um previously I just think
[2:31:24] because it's been revised so many times
[2:31:26] over the over the revisions and as many
[2:31:28] hands have touched it, it just kind of
[2:31:29] developed a sort of life of its own
[2:31:31] where bullets said the same thing in
[2:31:33] different ways and so forth. And so we
[2:31:35] consolidated it so that it tries to be
[2:31:37] very clear and concise about the here's,
[2:31:39] you know, here's what a board and
[2:31:41] committee member does. They're they are,
[2:31:43] you know, almost to a person volunteers.
[2:31:46] They need their time and expertise
[2:31:47] should be respected. Here's what is
[2:31:49] expected of them. Here's what they what
[2:31:52] they should be doing. Here's what they
[2:31:53] should not be doing. And then at the
[2:31:55] end, there's language um that I think
[2:31:57] resolves the issues that you were
[2:31:58] discussing regarding what happens after
[2:32:00] a vote is taken. um whether or not an
[2:32:03] individual, you know, how an individual
[2:32:05] can continue to express disagreement
[2:32:06] with the with the position if they are
[2:32:09] on the losing side without actively
[2:32:11] sabotaging the implementation of that
[2:32:13] decision from a public policy
[2:32:15] perspective. So, um using your language,
[2:32:17] David, I think we kind of thread that
[2:32:20] needle. The other big substantive change
[2:32:22] that's in there as opposed to stylistic
[2:32:24] is the one we talked about about
[2:32:26] boarding committee members doing uh
[2:32:27] independent research, reaching out to
[2:32:29] third parties, other municipalities,
[2:32:31] contractors. And the proposed solution
[2:32:33] there is that the if a board or
[2:32:35] committee member wants to do that kind
[2:32:36] of work that they first speak to the
[2:32:38] assigned staff person and ask that
[2:32:40] person to do that outreach and only then
[2:32:43] if they don't get what they want or if
[2:32:45] they don't get a response or so be you
[2:32:46] know whatever there's at least a record
[2:32:48] that they reached out to the staff
[2:32:50] person and said hey I would like to do
[2:32:51] this can you help me or you know can I
[2:32:54] can you arrange this contact so that
[2:32:56] there is a point a connection somewhere
[2:32:58] and staff know that that contact is
[2:33:01] taking place But it doesn't prevent it
[2:33:02] from happening. It just tries to make it
[2:33:04] so that in the first instance there's a
[2:33:06] clear line of communication in terms of
[2:33:08] you know who is who is the interlocator
[2:33:11] for the town in this regard. So um
[2:33:14] preserves the ability to do it makes
[2:33:16] sure that in the instances that were
[2:33:17] concern people were concerned about
[2:33:19] where either they didn't people don't
[2:33:22] get back to them or what have you
[2:33:23] there's still the opportunity to do
[2:33:24] that. But at the very least it creates a
[2:33:27] paper trail that the board member says
[2:33:29] hey I would like to do this. Is that
[2:33:31] okay? Um, and then there's no um there's
[2:33:34] no concern that board members are are freelancing, right? You know, are purporting to represent the
[2:33:40] authority that they don't have when
[2:33:42] speaking on the town's or trying to
[2:33:43] speak on the town's behalf.
[2:33:47] » One one comment in the code of conduct
[2:33:50] section. Um,
[2:33:52] right now we have the line that says
[2:33:54] members must not hold themselves out as
[2:33:56] having authority to negotiate or enter
[2:33:58] into agreements on the town's behalf.
[2:34:00] Um, I think we were proposing something
[2:34:03] more like proactively stating that they
[2:34:06] do not have the ability. Um, so that
[2:34:09] even if they do not present themselves
[2:34:11] as having negotiating authority, it is
[2:34:14] not presumed by a third party that does
[2:34:16] not understand the inner workings of
[2:34:18] town governance. I agree with Amanda. I
[2:34:20] think part of that discussion was we
[2:34:22] discussed maybe having a mandatory uh
[2:34:25] disclosure in writing that needs to
[2:34:28] accompany any outreach that is direct so
[2:34:31] that it's very clear. I think that the
[2:34:34] current language where it's just
[2:34:36] contacting a staff member that might not
[2:34:38] be sufficient because that doesn't
[2:34:41] necessarily prevent the member from then
[2:34:43] subsequently having a conversation that
[2:34:45] could be misconstrued even if that's not
[2:34:47] the intention.
[2:34:48] >> But if there's a written disclaimer that
[2:34:51] goes along with any such communication
[2:34:52] then it's abundantly clear.
[2:34:54] >> We can make that clear. Yeah,
[2:34:56] absolutely.
[2:34:58] Um, I haven't because of the the the
[2:35:01] late hour I haven't had any opportunity
[2:35:04] to review it. So, I'm going to just
[2:35:06] reserve the right to do so,
[2:35:08] >> of course.
[2:35:08] >> Um, but I I had one sort of larger
[2:35:12] question. The town currently has, and
[2:35:15] it's accessible from the select board's
[2:35:18] uh web page, a Town of Brookline code of
[2:35:21] conduct.
[2:35:21] >> Yes. that applies both to employees and
[2:35:26] to members of public bodies. And so I
[2:35:30] just I'm wondering whether um
[2:35:35] whether this should in in any form
[2:35:39] either supersede that or
[2:35:43] uh the code of conduct should be an
[2:35:44] employee code of conduct and then the um public bodies is handled
[2:35:50] independently um or how how they sort of
[2:35:53] cross reference each other.
[2:35:55] >> It's a great question. the so the code
[2:35:57] of conduct that was initially passed by
[2:35:58] the board in December of 2022, right?
[2:36:01] >> Um was passed
[2:36:04] >> as as I understand and this is right
[2:36:06] when I first arrived in town. It was one
[2:36:08] of the earliest projects that I
[2:36:10] >> took on and I what I was realized at
[2:36:13] that time was in the board's passage of
[2:36:15] that code of conduct. It was never the
[2:36:17] board did not express a clear intent
[2:36:20] that it be a mandatory document. It was
[2:36:22] basically sort of a set of community
[2:36:24] guidelines because it was it was meant
[2:36:27] to provide guidance both to people that
[2:36:29] the board had jurisdiction over and
[2:36:31] people the board did not have
[2:36:32] jurisdiction over. So when issues
[2:36:35] started to arise about members of the
[2:36:37] what happens if a member of the public
[2:36:39] violates the code of conduct position we
[2:36:41] took with those members of the public
[2:36:43] was this is an opportunity for
[2:36:45] education. We can send you a copy of the
[2:36:47] code of conduct. Please you know we
[2:36:49] encourage everyone to follow it. When it
[2:36:50] came to employees, there was the
[2:36:53] argument that was made. Certainly, we
[2:36:54] didn't collectively bargain it, so it
[2:36:56] didn't apply to the unions. And then
[2:36:58] non-UN employees raised the issue, well,
[2:37:00] if it doesn't apply to union employees,
[2:37:01] why should it apply to us? Um, with
[2:37:04] mandatory force. And so, ultimately,
[2:37:06] that code of conduct has been viewed as
[2:37:09] um a state a statement of goals or
[2:37:12] statement of policy, but not as an
[2:37:14] enforcable code of conduct with regard
[2:37:16] to employees or members of the public.
[2:37:19] Okay. And so I do think it is worth in
[2:37:21] this instance what you are creating is
[2:37:23] an enforcable code of conduct for boards
[2:37:25] and committee members. So I think there
[2:37:27] is because you say in this um handbook
[2:37:30] failure to follow the guidance of this
[2:37:32] handbook can results in you know you
[2:37:34] being not reappointed or asked to to
[2:37:36] step down. Um, so I do think there is a
[2:37:39] difference between this document and
[2:37:41] that document and I think it's worth
[2:37:43] revisiting that code of conduct in a
[2:37:45] broader context especially since we are
[2:37:47] now going coming up on a new cycle of
[2:37:49] negotiations with our main unions.
[2:37:52] >> Um, you in your explanation said members
[2:37:56] of the public and I'm just want a
[2:37:59] clarification. Did you mean members of
[2:38:01] the general public or members of public
[2:38:04] bodies?
[2:38:05] >> All all of the above. you know, someone
[2:38:07] comes into a public building yelling and
[2:38:09] screaming, calling someone names. You
[2:38:12] know, we were, you know, we've we've had
[2:38:14] some success actually in, you know,
[2:38:15] calming people down, talking through and
[2:38:17] say, "Hey, look, on the wall on every
[2:38:19] floor of town hall is this code of
[2:38:21] conduct says you're going to treat we're
[2:38:22] going to treat you with respect. You
[2:38:24] treat us with respect. Can you please
[2:38:25] stop shouting and tell us what it is
[2:38:27] that we can how we can help you?" Um,
[2:38:29] and you know, so that we we do try and
[2:38:32] deploy that code of conduct broadly. say
[2:38:35] this is kind of the compact we're trying
[2:38:37] to make with the public. You know, we
[2:38:38] make these commitments to you, you make
[2:38:39] these commitments to us. Um, but it's
[2:38:41] not enforceable. You know, it's not
[2:38:43] something that we can discipline
[2:38:44] somebody over. Um, and it is not
[2:38:46] something that we can use in the
[2:38:49] abstract to say, you know, to a border
[2:38:50] committee member, hey, you know, I have
[2:38:52] definitely said to some boarding
[2:38:54] committee members, hey, listen, here's a
[2:38:55] copy of the code of conduct. Do you
[2:38:57] think that your behavior is following
[2:38:58] this code of conduct? Um, but I haven't
[2:39:00] I have no authority to discipline them
[2:39:02] over it.
[2:39:03] >> Right. I'm I'm just the thing I'm
[2:39:06] concerned about is is the confusion of
[2:39:08] language. If you use code of conduct in
[2:39:11] an enforceable sense within the handbook
[2:39:13] and not in an enforceable sense in the
[2:39:16] broader then then maybe we should not
[2:39:20] use the same language to mean two
[2:39:22] different things in two different cases.
[2:39:23] >> I can think of a different term for this set of enforceable guidance.
[2:39:28] >> Yes, I think that's the right choice.
[2:39:32] Anyone
[2:39:33] else?
[2:39:36] >> All right. So, it seems that
[2:39:38] >> I question in the um actually in this
[2:39:41] version that you sent around today,
[2:39:43] there's some language that is in boxes
[2:39:45] and I thought that that related to um
[2:39:49] those things that don't apply to select
[2:39:51] board appointed uh public bodies. Is
[2:39:54] there a reason why we can't take that
[2:39:56] out? And because it's very um it
[2:40:00] clutters up the the handbook.
[2:40:01] >> Let me take you let us take a look at
[2:40:03] that. You know, we we we were trying to
[2:40:05] because because the document is helpful
[2:40:08] to bodies that are not select board
[2:40:10] appointed, it can be helpful to
[2:40:11] highlight to them like, hey, here are
[2:40:12] the sections that we think might apply
[2:40:14] to your operations. Um, but if you think
[2:40:17] that's if if you as a board think that's
[2:40:19] cluttering, we're happy to, you know,
[2:40:21] dispense with that that formatting
[2:40:22] >> or or there may be a clearer way to
[2:40:25] present that
[2:40:26] >> than a than a box.
[2:40:28] >> Yeah.
[2:40:28] You might even just be able to
[2:40:29] have a cover sheet that says 3.1, 3.6,
[2:40:33] whatever it is applies to all bodies.
[2:40:36] Um, regardless of whether
[2:40:38] >> I think sometimes, as you can see, it's
[2:40:39] like, you know, even like with within
[2:40:41] the introduction, you know, there's like
[2:40:42] there are boxes, you know, paragraph by
[2:40:44] paragraph. Some of them apply, some of
[2:40:46] them don't. Um,
[2:40:47] >> I mean, you you could just highlight or in bold type say this applies to
[2:40:53] nonflight board.
[2:40:55] >> I think that makes it more easily read
[2:40:59] and less confusing.
[2:41:01] >> I agree.
[2:41:03] >> Okay,
[2:41:05] >> we will we will consult our formatting
[2:41:08] team.
[2:41:09] >> All right. Anyone else want to comment?
[2:41:14] Okay, then we will vote on this at a
[2:41:16] subsequent date as you've received some
[2:41:19] more feedback.
[2:41:19] >> Thank you.
[2:41:20] >> And thank you for all the work that's
[2:41:22] got into this. We will now move on to
[2:41:25] our final item of the evening, long
[2:41:27] range and strategic plans progress
[2:41:30] discussion of cadence for updating the
[2:41:32] board on the progress of long range and
[2:41:34] other strategic plans.
[2:41:36] >> Thank you. I will I'll take this as well
[2:41:37] and I'll share my screen with you all.
[2:41:40] Um
[2:41:41] you can see here um this is our internal
[2:41:45] tracker of board um uh uh plans.
[2:41:50] >> That any bigger?
[2:41:52] >> Can I make that any bigger? Yes. Is it
[2:41:54] going to help you? I don't know. I will
[2:41:57] do my best.
[2:41:58] >> Thank you.
[2:42:02] » Um so you can see here um the list that
[2:42:05] we are creating in terms of long range
[2:42:07] or mid-range strategic plans. We have
[2:42:09] the name of the plan, the department and
[2:42:11] division that it belongs to, a link to
[2:42:13] the plan itself, um the time horizon of
[2:42:16] the plan, when it is updated, the
[2:42:18] importance of renewing it on time, the
[2:42:20] update cadence that we are suggesting
[2:42:22] for the select board, um the method of
[2:42:25] which we would recommend um updating
[2:42:27] you, and then the contact person for
[2:42:30] when you have questions about what was
[2:42:32] going on with a particular plan or
[2:42:33] policy. I wanted to share this with you
[2:42:36] here in advance of publishing it more
[2:42:38] broadly and sharing it with both you and
[2:42:39] the public to double check one if there
[2:42:42] is additional information about these
[2:42:44] plans that you would like covered
[2:42:46] besides these um these uh uh columns you
[2:42:51] see here and um to um just have a
[2:42:55] discussion more generally about the
[2:42:57] cadence of these um presentations. One
[2:43:00] of the things that I want to avoid, you
[2:43:02] know, it's good. It's, you know, we
[2:43:03] talked a little bit earlier about
[2:43:04] codifying norms and practices and so
[2:43:06] forth. It's really great that we are
[2:43:08] moving into, you know, in on a
[2:43:10] department by department basis increased
[2:43:12] strategic planning and long range um
[2:43:15] policy um focus. Um what we don't want
[2:43:18] to do is wind up in a situation where
[2:43:20] all of our time is spent updating our
[2:43:21] plans. Um we want to be implementing the
[2:43:23] plans. So um you can see here that we
[2:43:26] have um 22 uh plan Sorry, 21 plans
[2:43:31] listed here. Uh, of which, um, some are, plans that were, for
[2:43:36] example, the strategic asset um, and
[2:43:40] major parcel study was commissioned as
[2:43:42] part of the 2018 override. Um, and there
[2:43:44] was never a proposal made to update it.
[2:43:46] Um, it's included here for sake of
[2:43:48] completeness. Um, but it is one of the
[2:43:50] odd plans out in the sense that it
[2:43:53] provides valuable guidance to us, but it
[2:43:55] doesn't actually have um, a cadence for
[2:43:58] updates to the board. Um similar and you
[2:44:01] know you can see similarly with um the
[2:44:03] 2022
[2:44:05] um uh transportation and mobility plan.
[2:44:07] There is no um language in that plan
[2:44:09] about when the next major update is. But
[2:44:12] obviously one of the things that's
[2:44:14] happened since that plan was published
[2:44:16] is that we have been updating the data
[2:44:17] in underlining under underlying it on an
[2:44:20] annual basis. And so the publication of
[2:44:23] the plan itself is a um a starting
[2:44:26] point, but then every year you will see
[2:44:29] the commissioner come in with an updated
[2:44:31] version of that um you know now
[2:44:34] ubiquitous graph about if we spend x
[2:44:35] amount of dollars the quality of the
[2:44:37] roads goes up. If we spend x amount of
[2:44:38] dollars the quality of the roads is
[2:44:39] maintained. If we spend less than x
[2:44:41] amount of dollars, the quality of the
[2:44:42] roads goes down because we update that
[2:44:44] number every year, which we were not
[2:44:46] always doing prior to the catalyst of
[2:44:50] that transportation and mobility plan.
[2:44:52] Um, so there are, you know, I we when we
[2:44:56] circulate this document, I think the
[2:44:58] feedback that would be helpful for us is this too much information? Is there too much going on here? um you
[2:45:06] know where possible we've tried to
[2:45:08] identify when updates can be
[2:45:09] consolidated or put in writing. For
[2:45:11] example, there are a number of emergency
[2:45:13] management plans on here and the EM team
[2:45:15] is happy to consolidate updates of these
[2:45:17] with other either with other plans um or
[2:45:21] um with other emergency management
[2:45:22] functions. So, it's not as though we
[2:45:24] need to be updating all 21 of the all 21
[2:45:26] of these in person with you on even on
[2:45:29] an annual basis. Um there's the
[2:45:31] opportunity for consolidation, but um we
[2:45:34] want to hear from you if there's too
[2:45:36] much in here, if there are things that
[2:45:38] you were expecting to see in here that
[2:45:39] are not in here. Um and if the
[2:45:42] overarching cadence of this is um
[2:45:44] appropriate, at which point we will
[2:45:46] start building out your annual calendar
[2:45:50] um with regular updates based on this
[2:45:54] framework. So,
[2:45:56] >> so my initial thought is that your your
[2:45:59] uh projects or sorry your reports
[2:46:02] essentially fall in a few different
[2:46:03] buckets. There are those that we need to
[2:46:06] have a formal updating of the report on
[2:46:08] some regular cadence every five to 10
[2:46:11] years for either internal purposes or or
[2:46:14] for state funding. Um there are others
[2:46:17] that I could see something like the Karp
[2:46:20] where the update is not you need to redo
[2:46:23] the whole plan. You just need to report
[2:46:25] back on the progress that has been made
[2:46:27] against said plan.
[2:46:28] >> Um and so like the the cadence and the
[2:46:31] type of feedback are different
[2:46:33] >> in that regard. Um, and then maybe the
[2:46:35] third category is what you were talking
[2:46:37] about where there's a few one-off
[2:46:40] uh reports that have been done and I
[2:46:42] think when thinking about them, we
[2:46:45] should view it in the context from which
[2:46:47] they started. Um, so if the goal was to
[2:46:52] identify major parcels that might be
[2:46:54] ripe for development, theoretically the
[2:46:56] update should come from our long-term
[2:46:59] economic development team um, in the
[2:47:02] context of whatever other updating
[2:47:04] they're they're doing on a regular
[2:47:05] basis. Um, so maybe even like thinking
[2:47:08] about them into three different
[2:47:10] categories. Um because you're right, I
[2:47:13] can very much see way too much staff
[2:47:16] time being put into words smmithing
[2:47:19] documents that no one is going to read.
[2:47:21] Um where I would rather know, especially
[2:47:25] for things that um we have talked about
[2:47:28] hitting milestones on a regular basis. I
[2:47:30] would rather just have them spend their
[2:47:33] time making progress and then saying
[2:47:36] x amount of the vision zero high
[2:47:38] priority network has vision zero
[2:47:40] improvements. That's a much more valid
[2:47:42] number to me than like rewriting the
[2:47:44] whole vision zero plan.
[2:47:46] >> And also a natural point at which many
[2:47:48] of these departments and divisions are
[2:47:50] going to deliver updates to you about
[2:47:52] this is as part of the budget process,
[2:47:54] right? you know this is when they
[2:47:55] present to advisory that's really the
[2:47:58] deep dive the digging into the the the lines and and so forth. This is you
[2:48:04] their opportunity there are updates to
[2:48:05] you on the select board are really an
[2:48:07] opportunity to talk about goals and and
[2:48:09] achievements and progress um and what
[2:48:12] their hopes are for the coming fiscal
[2:48:14] year. So as part of that they can build
[2:48:16] these longer range plans some of these
[2:48:19] longer range plans into that update. But
[2:48:21] for some of them, I do think that you
[2:48:22] are going to want standalone updates on
[2:48:25] how things are going because of the
[2:48:27] centrality of the plans to the overall
[2:48:29] um goals and objectives of the town.
[2:48:32] >> Um a couple of thoughts. Um
[2:48:37] with regard to sort of the categories
[2:48:39] that that Amanda laid out, um uh I was I
[2:48:42] was sort of thinking thinking along
[2:48:46] somewhat similar lines. Uh in
[2:48:48] particular, uh I would like to know
[2:48:52] which of these
[2:48:54] um which of these plans have trackable
[2:48:58] goals embedded within them and which
[2:49:01] ones do not. Um and for the ones that
[2:49:05] have trackable goals, you know, in the
[2:49:07] case of the road map, you know, we've had we there's been some
[2:49:12] discussion of of the stages of progress
[2:49:16] and I know that such also exist in the
[2:49:18] car.
[2:49:19] >> Yeah.
[2:49:19] >> Um I think that that kind of common
[2:49:23] progress marker to the extent that it
[2:49:26] can be adopted across more plans um in presentation will help streamline our
[2:49:33] ability to absorb the information. So
[2:49:36] building building out some some form of
[2:49:40] consistent progress indicators
[2:49:44] um for those plans that have specific
[2:49:46] goals
[2:49:48] um and
[2:49:50] for that set of plans
[2:49:53] um I'm not sure how much how how much
[2:49:56] sort of detailed uh words smmithing is
[2:49:59] necessary but certainly to know if a
[2:50:04] particular goal or action that is being
[2:50:08] uh measured along the along that
[2:50:10] implementation or execution pathway
[2:50:13] makes progress. Um I would actually like
[2:50:16] to be able to see that information just that that one metric updated on a
[2:50:22] quarterly basis. And the reason is
[2:50:25] because because since there are so many
[2:50:29] PL um of so many items that are being
[2:50:32] tracked along that mechanism um by the
[2:50:36] time you know if you look at this
[2:50:37] annually and you try and look at all of
[2:50:39] the things that people have worked on.
[2:50:41] It's it's very hard to absorb
[2:50:45] um and respond to and reflect on, you
[2:50:48] know, what could be several hundred
[2:50:51] action items that have been made that
[2:50:54] we've made progress on and if there was
[2:50:56] a
[2:51:00] slightly faster rhythm specifically just
[2:51:03] to indicate those items in which
[2:51:06] progress has been made. Um I think that
[2:51:09] would be helpful both for us to be able
[2:51:11] to digest it and for broader
[2:51:13] communication to the public.
[2:51:15] >> So for clarification you would say on a
[2:51:18] quarterly basis take the carp and be
[2:51:20] like these three items we made progress
[2:51:22] on this quarter and not talk about the
[2:51:24] rest of them.
[2:51:24] >> Right. And this one moved from planning
[2:51:26] to implementation and this one moved
[2:51:28] from implementation to complete and this
[2:51:31] one moved from pre-planning. Now we've
[2:51:33] started planning.
[2:51:35] When when saying tracking, do you mean
[2:51:39] measurable or beyond measurable?
[2:51:41] >> Well, from my examination of plans, um I
[2:51:47] to answer your
[2:51:49] the your question, I think I'm talking
[2:51:52] about trackable. Um if we have uh if we
[2:51:56] are trying to track goals that are not
[2:51:58] themselves measurable or we have a sense
[2:52:02] of like sort of where they are in the
[2:52:04] execution pipeline
[2:52:06] um then I think that's a problem with
[2:52:08] the goal and that should be that should
[2:52:10] potentially be called out. Um
[2:52:15] but but the the other piece of this that
[2:52:18] makes that makes some of these goals
[2:52:20] more complex is that some of the goals
[2:52:23] as they're specified in plans are oneoff
[2:52:26] goals like you know we want to uh we
[2:52:31] want to reduce our vision zero deaths in
[2:52:33] town to zero per year right and you know
[2:52:37] we have all these sub goals and you know
[2:52:39] the uh the the percentage of
[2:52:42] implementation of bicycle network etc
[2:52:44] and so forth. Um some of them are a
[2:52:47] single goal that goes from beginning to
[2:52:49] end. There are other goals however which
[2:52:52] are ongoing where that cycle of
[2:52:55] implementation
[2:52:57] um is actually annual you know like
[2:53:02] uh I can't think of an example off the
[2:53:04] top of my head but many of the goals for
[2:53:06] example in the carp say or the road map
[2:53:08] say ongoing which means that you know
[2:53:11] you you get it done in one year and then
[2:53:13] you need to get it done in in a in a
[2:53:15] future year. Um, and maybe for that set
[2:53:19] of for that set of ongoing goals,
[2:53:22] there's a different kind of cadence, but
[2:53:24] I'm particularly interested in both for
[2:53:27] our understanding and for the
[2:53:28] understanding of the public when we
[2:53:30] establish long range goals that have
[2:53:34] multiple stages in terms of their
[2:53:36] execution that we get more reporting on
[2:53:39] those.
[2:53:40] >> So, I I agree with your uh proposed
[2:53:42] formulation.
[2:53:44] uh I would propose maybe adding one
[2:53:47] additional layer which would be to the
[2:53:49] extent that the goals are quantitative
[2:53:53] to provide that data as well where where
[2:53:56] there's something that is tangibly
[2:53:58] measurable as opposed to a qualitative
[2:54:00] goal. So some of our goals are more
[2:54:04] uh open-ended and subject to
[2:54:06] interpretation. And so those can
[2:54:08] certainly be tracked in terms of what
[2:54:10] stage we're in similar to what we're
[2:54:12] doing with the road map. But where there
[2:54:14] is a goal that uh there's a specific
[2:54:16] number having that specific number as a
[2:54:19] data point I think would be helpful.
[2:54:21] >> Sure. Yeah. And and for the for the
[2:54:24] items which are uh maybe the term is
[2:54:29] aspirational as opposed to measurable,
[2:54:32] right? because um
[2:54:35] you know I think I think I'm less
[2:54:38] concerned personally about quarterly
[2:54:42] progress on aspir on those aspirational
[2:54:45] goals. I mean, they may still be they
[2:54:48] may still be quantifiable in the sense
[2:54:50] that, you know, if we if we, for
[2:54:52] example, have a goal that says we want
[2:54:54] 2400 units of new housing by 2035 or
[2:54:58] whatever number comes up in whichever
[2:55:00] plan, um that that goal is relevant. Um,
[2:55:06] I mean it certainly would be worthwhile
[2:55:08] at some point having,
[2:55:11] you know, knowing where we are along
[2:55:13] that number, but that's that's a
[2:55:15] different tracking piece than the
[2:55:18] tracking piece of where we are in the
[2:55:21] execution plan. And I think those two
[2:55:23] things are distinct um, and may be
[2:55:26] subject to different kinds of reporting.
[2:55:31] » All right, anyone else?
[2:55:33] Amanda,
[2:55:34] >> uh, just one uh point. I I actually
[2:55:37] liked your quarterly tracking, but I'm
[2:55:39] thinking about staff workload for some
[2:55:42] of those. And I don't want the tracking
[2:55:46] to update us on a quarterly basis to
[2:55:48] take the place of actually doing the
[2:55:50] thing.
[2:55:51] >> And so if that is too heavy a burden,
[2:55:53] I'd rather go to less frequent updates.
[2:55:55] >> And you know, all of this feedback I'm
[2:55:57] writing down, we have our regular
[2:55:59] department heads meetings. I'm going to
[2:56:01] take this feedback back to the
[2:56:02] department heads and get get comments
[2:56:04] from them. I'll bring it back to you.
[2:56:05] This is this is a dialogue. So, we will
[2:56:07] continue to have this conversation.
[2:56:09] >> Right. I I I want to make really clear
[2:56:11] that that I'm not trying to get words
[2:56:15] details on every goal quarterly. Right.
[2:56:17] I'm trying to get a very specific metric
[2:56:20] that we can track over time.
[2:56:25] » All right. Anything else?
[2:56:28] >> Oh, one other point. I think you have it
[2:56:30] in your spreadsheet, but the ones that
[2:56:32] we are tracking because like I'm
[2:56:35] thinking the OSRP that you need to
[2:56:37] submit in order to be eligible for
[2:56:39] funding and therefore like it important
[2:56:42] to do it at whatever cadence is
[2:56:44] dictated.
[2:56:44] >> Yes. One of the you know one of the
[2:56:46] things that department head suggested as
[2:56:47] we were building this was you know why
[2:56:49] do we need this you know is it just why
[2:56:51] do we need to update this document is it
[2:56:53] and the answer could be we don't or the
[2:56:54] answer could be we must or we don't get
[2:56:56] the money. Um, so yeah.
[2:56:58] >> And yeah, and that the answer to that
[2:57:00] also helps like if we can consolidate
[2:57:02] any plans,
[2:57:03] >> right?
[2:57:03] >> Um, because I am all for streamlining so
[2:57:06] that you're not updating three different
[2:57:08] plans with the same thing.
[2:57:09] >> Yes.
[2:57:10] >> Um, and and I'm sure there are also
[2:57:12] cases where um uh specific plan goals
[2:57:17] are either uh redundant or conflicting.
[2:57:21] And you know that's once we once we have
[2:57:25] the full list and we can to see that
[2:57:27] then maybe identifying some of those
[2:57:30] points will also be helpful.
[2:57:34] All right.
[2:57:36] Okay. So, that wraps up that item. But
[2:57:38] before we close for the evening, a
[2:57:40] couple matters. Uh Kate, for purposes of
[2:57:43] the minutes, Anthony contacted me and in
[2:57:46] addition to voting yes to reappoint Len
[2:57:49] Holy, he also would like to register a
[2:57:51] yes vote for the Win Village MOA.
[2:57:55] >> Okay. Thank you.
[2:57:58] >> Um would
[2:57:58] >> is that allowed then to send in a vote?
[2:58:02] >> I I I I would really like opinion from
[2:58:05] council on that question as well.
[2:58:07] >> I think we've done it before, but sure
[2:58:08] we can check.
[2:58:09] >> Good answer.
[2:58:10] >> We will um county council is online, but
[2:58:12] I I don't think Joe, I don't know if you
[2:58:14] have a have a have an answer up your
[2:58:15] sleeve for this one. Um
[2:58:18] >> so I don't think it counts as an
[2:58:20] official vote, but you can record his
[2:58:22] sense that if he was president, he would
[2:58:24] have voted that way. So I think that's
[2:58:25] permissible. But counting it as like
[2:58:28] four, you know, you know, if it was
[2:58:30] probably 40 instead of now 50, like no,
[2:58:33] that's not permissible. He needs to be
[2:58:34] present. But you can put in the minutes
[2:58:36] that if president, you know, uh, you
[2:58:38] know, Anthony would have voted in favor.
[2:58:41] >> Okay.
[2:58:44] All right. Would anyone like to be heard
[2:58:46] in public comments before we close our
[2:58:48] meeting?
[2:58:51] >> There's no one line. I make a
[2:58:53] >> Sure. Go ahead, Amanda. Um, mainly
[2:58:54] because I'm still on the pole worker
[2:58:56] emails. Uh, Brookline is still in need
[2:58:58] of poll workers for the November
[2:59:00] election. Um, so contact I think it is
[2:59:04] poleworker bricklinem.gov
[2:59:06] if you are interested.
[2:59:08] >> We are not meeting on that.
[2:59:11] >> And I would like to uh add a thank you
[2:59:13] to Mrs. Rubenstein for fetting us
[2:59:16] >> delicious apple cake tonight.
[2:59:18] >> Please uh Ms. Scavenish.
[2:59:20] >> Miss Scavish.
[2:59:21] >> Yes. for uh the delicious apple.
[2:59:23] >> Whoever it was, it was delicious. I
[2:59:25] mean, it was incredible.
[2:59:27] >> Okay. All right.
[2:59:27] >> Thank you. And you can record that in
[2:59:29] the minutes.
[2:59:31] >> And that David, are you going to attend
[2:59:33] the uh opening of the Wonder restaurant
[2:59:36] thing tomorrow?
[2:59:38] >> What time is that?
[2:59:40] >> It's 5:30 to 7:30.
[2:59:41] >> Yeah.
[2:59:42] I was planning on being there.
[2:59:43] >> Yeah, I was going to go, too.
[2:59:45] >> All right.
[2:59:46] >> I mean, you don't have to go. I'm
[2:59:48] curious, but
[2:59:49] >> I'll try to make it.
[2:59:50] >> Okay. You know what it is? It's new
[2:59:53] concept.
[2:59:53] >> Yeah,
[2:59:54] >> they they sent me a request for an RSVP.
[2:59:57] I don't know if they sent one.
[3:00:00] >> All right. Well, that concludes our
[3:00:02] meeting for the evening. Okay.
[3:00:03] >> Thank you.